Timeless Love

by Judith O'Brien

The Magic Charm

It was a lovely silver necklace with a strange antique charm -- an early sixteenth birthday present from her parents. But now Samantha clutched the charm, desperate to disappear when her father discovered she'd wrecked his BMW.... Suddenly she was standing in the bedchamber of Edward VI, the young king of England in 1553....

He was her own age -- and cute. Why hadn't she studied her history? Sam only knew that Edward had died at about sixteen -- and she was determined to save him. He seemed to expect her. He called her "my sweet angel." She should have recognized the danger when the scheming Duke of Northumberland tried to come between them. But Edward protected her -- especially as the ailing young king grew healthy, and rumors of marriage began. She thought she was safe -- until a handsome young stranger stole her heart and swept her into the middle of deadly sixteenth-century court intrigue.... Could she ever go home again?

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Writing romance novels has got to be the way to make a living in the world. What other career allows you to send the kids off to school, walk the dog, and vanish into the most fascinating of historical times and places, with the most glorious of men, to escape danger and find everlasting love for the rest of the day?

Like most writers, I knew early on that I wanted to be a writer. Well, almost. Actually, writing was the third choice on my short list of career possibilities, right after Fairy Princess and Prima Ballerina. The first two didn't work out. So after college I moved to New York, where I worked for Seventeen Magazine. Not only had I never really been to New York before, but I believe I was the only editorial assistant in the magazine industry who still wore knee socks. Soon I was promoted to Editor of the "Letters to the Editor" department. Yes, there really IS an editor for the letters to the editor column. But it allowed me to write articles, answer the personal problems of teens (boys and zits were the big topics of concern), and rummage through the back files of the magazine. I found Sylvia Plath's original carbon of a short story she submitted while still in high school. There were articles on up-and-coming talents with names like Judy Holiday, Marlon Brando and Elvis. And very occasionally I was employed as a last-minute makeover subject. That was me looking miserable after getting the "Brideshead Revisited" bob.

Then I lucked into a fabulous job - as a jacket copy writer at a publishing house called Pocket Books. There I first read Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood in manuscript form, and from those I would compose the blurbs for the book covers. It was heaven. I would read straight through my lunch hour, thus accounting for the chicken salad and iced tea on the returned manuscripts. But as much as I loved reading those marvelous stories, what I really wanted to do was to write one. Just one. Just to see what would happen.

Life interfered. I went back into magazines, this time at Self as an editor and writer. I got married, then had my son. I was still on maternity leave, writing general health articles while bouncing a newborn on my knee, that I began to dream once again of writing a romance novel. So that is exactly what I did. And I modestly claim to have written the most horrendous first three chapters of ANY book, in ANY genre, at ANY time in history. Unfortunately, still addled by the turmoil of being a new mom (hey, it's an excuse), I actually sent the wretched chapters to agents and publishers.

The rejections were polite form letters. Dozens of them. I shoved them into a bottom drawer and stuck to articles, becoming a free-lance writer and full-time mom. A few years later I gave romance writing another try. This time I sent it to only one person, Linda Marrow, with whom I had worked at Pocket Books years earlier. I certainly did not expect her to accept the manuscript. But I did hope she would let me know which editor at whatever house just might be interested in my time-travel romance.

Instead, I received a call from Linda three days later, offering me a two book contract.

Now I am a single mom. My son is twelve. I live in Brooklyn. And I'm lucky enough to write romance novels for a living. So please excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable. Such as Civil War Atlanta, or Tudor England, or Georgian Ireland, or....Did I mention how much I love this job?

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. It's so cheesy and so contrived, but I love every minute of it. I've re-read it several times. One of my favorite young adult books.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Samantha McKenna has just wrecked her dad's precious new BMW, and she's desperate to escape. Clutching her birthday present, an antique locket, she wishes desperately to escape, and finds herself thrown back in time to England in 1553, to the castle of fifteen-year-old King Edward VI. The sickly Edward thinks Sam is his angel, come to take him to heaven. But with her modern knowledge, Sam brings Edward back from the brink of death. As months go by, Sam begins to adjust to life in the past, although she still longs for a way to return home. Then she meets Barnaby, a handsome nobleman, and falls in love with him. But court life in the sixteenth-century is dangerous, and Sam finds her life, and that of her newfound love, in danger.

I really though I'd love this book, since I enjoy stories with romance, time travel, and history, and this book has all three. However, the romance between Samantha and Barnaby developed too quickly to be very believable, and the ending was unrealistically happy. The book was enjoyable while reading it, but it just needed something more - at the end all I could think was, that's it?? I don't think I'd recommend buying this book, but it might be worth a read if you can get it at the library.

[Sabrina F · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a bout a girl named Sam who had just wercked her dads car and was going to get in alot of trouble for wrecking it. Thats when her mother gave her a charm that had magic powers and was albe to go to the 1500s and she appeared in King Edwards bedchamber and after that she met some other famous people like Queen Elizabeth and his cousin Lady Jane Grey who was very smart and cunning. Sam also met a knight named Banaby Fitzpatrick who was the kings loyal companion. She got caught messing up England and tried to run away to London but instead ended up at home there she relized that Barnaby had come with her and they helped him fit in to this century. My opinion about the book was that it taught me about history and present it was interesting.

[fulano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty silly time travel book that was easy to read but lacking in the attention I wanted for its characters. It’s not very realistic of course, given the setting and what the characters would/should do, it’s set in the Tudor era and the dialogue is not the best for it. There’s also a very sudden romance that doesn’t develop further.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit I was a little let down by the book. It was a little juvenile, and the idea that if Edward VI had lived he would have become such a tyrant that he would have made even his father look meek and mild-mannered doesn't sit right.

A bit too fluffy and hurried for my tastes.

[Carrie]

Carrie Ackerson, Romance

There’s a little bit of magic in the silver charm Samantha’s mother gives her for a 16th birthday present, and when Sam wrecks her dad’s BMW and wishes she were somewhere else…anywhere else!...she finds herself in Tudor England, her current History study. Sam helps the sickly young king Edward VI become healthy by identifying his allergies, thus becoming a member of his Court. When the King calls his best friend back from France, romance blossoms! But Sam and her new flame are politically dangerous to the King’s adviser; Sam needs to go back home to avoid The Tower. When Home is alarmingly different, Sam realizes she has to return to Tudor England to fix history.

I thought this book was hilarious! It was cleverly written. I chose it because it was the most tattered Teen Romance I could find, so I figured that it was well-liked.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sam, turning 16 in a couple weeks, decides to try a new look. She and her friend dye and perm her hair at the same time and it turns into a disaster. On the way to the drug store to try to find things to fix her hair she crashes her dad's BMW. While studying Tudor England Sam desperately wishes to be somewhere else. As she thinks this she is transported into King Edward's bedchamber. This book is a very quick read thats
full of adventure and life at Edward's Court. I wouldn't recommend buying this book, but if you have a couple hours then I would recommend reading this.

[Charisse · Rating 1 out of 5]

This may have been interesting as an introductory read to history when I was 8 but a lot of her facts are wrong, the story was WAY too fast-paced, and the love story was unbelievable. Also, the traveling through time was not well thought out and didn't make sense at the end. This was one of the worst written books I've ever read. Highly disappointing when I thought it was to be a fun, fluffy, slightly historical read.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book probably around when it was first published and decided to read it again now. I distinctly remember liking it more the first time. I personally very much enjoy historical fiction so that might explain it. For the positives: I like the idea behind the book. I’ve always enjoyed travel back in time type historical fiction and I don’t mind that the read not be rigidly accurate to history (though I’d rather things not be so far off that it is nearly unrecognizable). It is a light read and could possibly get younger readers more interested in history itself and other historical fiction reads. Here’s where the positives end. A lot of the story made no sense, was way too black and white, and I was confused by the character arc of the young King Edward. He spent most of his life in relatively good health until that last illness and didn’t live terribly long with it when he died. His characterization is way too extreme and makes absolutely no sense. Then there’s the language. Good god, the language! Every time I read a character from 16th century England saying “yea”, I ground my teeth. Hard. Would it have been so hard to use an “s” instead?! The language of the characters was some odd combination between occasionally accurate to (more often) an amalgamation of modern 21st century speech and vernacular used before the time period. I get it’s a young adult novel (probably more like elementary/middle school age) but it still would have been nice to see just a tiny bit of research and accuracy done here. There are vastly better reads in the young adult historical fiction genre that are engaging and demonstrate some level of research done prior.

[Marnie Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely is a more entertaining read when you're in middle school or high school and looking for the next paperback that makes your heart swoon. Reading the book now, the writing and story is a little juvenile. I'd love it more if the end hadn't been so rushed. But it's still a story I'll hold onto and read again because I love the concept.

[Astri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this old book as I was spring cleaning my bookshelves. I was not sure if I was going to give it away or not so I reread it. It was quite a fun book to read, no wonder I bought it back in the days when I was an early teen. This one was published in 2002! Even though I rated it 3 stars, I still thought it was a good read and definitely will keep it.

[Leela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un libro que estaba muy emocionada por leer. Me lo compré de ofertón en Amazon el año pasado, estaba bastante emocionada por leerlo ya que, aunque a mí lo me gusta nada la época medieval y mucho menos la historia medieval de Inglaterra o de países europeos, trataba de una chica que viajaba en el tiempo a la época del reinado del único hijo varón de Enrique VIII. El libro es entretenido mientras lo lees, pero cuando lo acabas te quedas con un mal sabor de boca que te arrepientes un poco de haberlo leído. Está contado en tercera persona, aunque muy mal hecho, todo muy superficial, sin profundizar en ningún personaje. Sam se enamora a primera vista de la mano derecha del Rey (yo pensaba que se iba a enamorar del Rey), y tiene un final súper obvio: él llegado a nuestro mundo sin que a nadie le parezca rara la situación. No sé, no le doy menos nota porque ha estado entretenido mientras lo leía, aunque algunas partes eran terriblemente lentas y parrafadas enteras metidas con calzador para que la autora nos demuestre todo lo que ha estudiado sobre el tema.

[Wrenna Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if I read this book when I was younger. I think I would have like it more. I thought it was well written. To me the main charter was a little spoilt in her ways but as the story go on Sam become less spoilt by the end of the book.

[Lynne M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this book in high school, and enjoyed it. Reading it now, it is definitely a YA book and obviously written as an accurate historical novel. Better for younger readers.

[Liz Eee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance about a girl who goes back in time to the Tudor Era.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books I bought from my school bookfair, I want to say around 8th grade. Which is when I really got into reading. Being an 8th grader, young, and imaginative... I was obsessed with old amulet necklances. Not that i thought they would take me back in time, but because they seemed magical in their own way, and the stories I would come up with to go with whoever may have had the necklace before. ( Which was probably nobody since these necklaces came from walmart or something like so lol.)

I still have this book on my book shelf, old and tattered. And, I think a few years ago I bought a necklace from Lia Sofia that looked similar to the one on the cover. Even though it was square and brown, and well.. ugly. Because, I loved the story, and it reminded me of this book.
Its always nice to have a book that you read when you where younger, and smile at the silly things it had you doing because you mini fangirled the story.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book kept me entertained virtually throughout the entire plot, and I applaud my friend who recommended it to me, I can't help but feel as though it lacked...something. I would say that I can't put my finger on it, but I can.
Everything was done perfectly--the resolution, the changes in the future, the fixing of the changes in the future--but it was the ending where everything Judith O'Brien sewed together so flawlessly unravelled. It just didn't make any sense; there is no way it could have ended in that way. I know it's difficult to let the novel end in a reasonable, normal way, but let's be honest: you just gotta do what you gotta do.

[Rakisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book two and half stars instead of three. Although the descriptions of the Tudor kingdom was a bit heavy handed and the language of the main character felt a little stilted, Timeless Love was afun,engaging and quick read. It was on its way to get three stars from me as I raced to the end of the book.(For such a light plot, it was taking an awfully long time to wrap up.) The absolute ending killed an other wise decent, fun, YA historical fiction novel. It felt tacked on. It arrived where the book should have naturally ended, and caused me to almost throw it across the bus.

[Laura Vojtekova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about this book but I find it so easy to read and heartwarming. The first time I read it was around 10 years ago as a 14 y.o. borrowed from a library and I remember falling in love with it. I remembered it since then and bought myself a physical copy but didn't read it till now. And now rereading it, I still had an amazing time reading this book, immersing myself to the story and reliving the same feelings as younger me. I completely adore this book although there isn't anything absolutely special about it. Just a lovely historical romance that I can go to when I feel like going back. My absolute fave ❤❤❤

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, this was cheesy and ridiculous, but it was just so fun to read! A modern teenager being sent back to the Tudor times? You know I'm in!

I loved the details of King Edward's court life, and especially liked Sam's inner thoughts about the lack of hygiene. Somehow I never think about the fact that these people didn't brush their teeth when I read historical fiction! The entire "what if..." plot was very interesting, and it's fun to speculate what might have been.

All in all, it was just a fun, cute, fluffy book.

[_solun_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I’ve read the summery I was very excited to start this book. When I was about halfway through and got used to the writing style I realised this book just wasn’t it for me. Well I finished it now and I guess I just expected more? The whole time I was thinking “finally something will happen” and sadly that wasn’t true. The characters seemed a bit bland and so it was hard to get attached to them and feel their emotions as my own. Overall this book wasn’t bad and it was an easy read so if you are thinking of reading it just go for it. My copy was around 190 pages long with 10 chapters.

[Batool R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!! I read it a long time ago, but I remember how much I loved it. I'm pretty sure it's about a girl who accidentally damamges her dad's car. Before her dad comes, her mom gives her a pendant for an early birthday present. She wishes she was in a certain time while holding the pendant and transfers to a different time. She pretty much starts changing history...meets a handsome "fellow"...etc. Good Book.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book countless times when I was in middle school. Okay, somewhere around 11-12 times. I was first developing my love for historical fiction and wishing I could time travel like some of the protagonists in those novels featuring it. For that reason, I adored this book at that age and still think of it fondly.

[Cindy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One moment Sam is afraid her dad is going to kill her for scratching his BMW than the next moment she is standing in the bedroom of King Edward VI. History comes alive like Sam never imagined. I love time travel romance books and I also love the Tudors. So this book feels like it was written just for me. I absolutely loved it.

[Elizabeth Plav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet romance about a girl who goes back in time to the Tudor Era.

[Emily Rabecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was a delight! it brought ideas from our time and the tudors time! i recommend it for anyone who likes a happy ending! i finished this book smiling!!!

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 1/2 Stars
Interesting book... I like Barnaby :)

[Mori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Donútili ma to prečítať. Veľmi som sa nebránila predsa len kniha je kniha a tým sa brániť neviem, ale aj tak.
Dobrý nápad, zle napísané a slovenský preklad tomu nepomohol ani trošku.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I read this years ago, but I don't particularly remember it, which means it was probably just okay.

[Nic nittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read despite it being a short and quick read. A cute read. I wish I could find more books like this.