An Extended Journey

by Paul Sherman

READER REMARKS (Amazon Kindle eBook Edition):

“It is hard to find really skillfully written time travel novels but this one was one. It is rare to say this but I was glad it was as long as it is and sad when it ended.” --Laurie Pollack (Pennsylvania)--

"Characters are believable and real, events and locations are so well described, you feel as if you are there. Use of actual people of the times helps keep the feeling of authenticity. The plot flows smoothly and the pacing keeps you turning the pages. A great read." --DanaRae (South Carolina)--

“This is a powerful, superbly written book and a wonderfully structured story. I am a Thomas Jefferson fan, and have never read a more fully-realized, realistic version of him. It's like author Paul Sherman knew the man personally... and shares with us the 'normal guy' version of Jefferson that we never considered." --Michael Russell--

“Sherman's sharp eye for detail adds a lot to this imaginative tale. It's a good read, and a page-turner, which I recommend without reservation.” --Retired English Teacher--

“I absolutely loved it. This is a fun way to experience how our ancestors lived. Paul Sherman did a great job on research and presentation. I intend to recommend it to my book club friends.” --Venita Fountain (Louisiana)--

“This is a remarkable book sure to delight all fans of the time travel genre, not to mention readers who just like a fun yet important American story well told -- one with big issues at its core. An America with no racial guilt or hatred? What a concept!” --Peter Boody (New York)--


THE STORY:

This is an adventure to be enjoyed. It involves Time Travel, but it's not Science Fiction. Nor is it Romance, though there’s an abundance of love. It’s about a man and a woman and their two little daughters, and it makes you wonder, what would I do?

An Extended Journey is the story of a family stranded in a strange yet familiar world, our American past of the 18th century. At first it’s about survival, but then there are choices to make and consequences to face. It’s about an unsought opportunity to correct the biggest mistake our nation’s Founders ever made.

David Gearns is an ordinary guy who responds to extraordinary circumstances. He’s a 21st century white, middle-class, corporate employee who travels with his wife and young children on a combination business and pleasure trip, unaware that they will soon be on a different journey entirely. Their visit to Colonial Williamsburg becomes much too authentic when they are whisked through time to Virginia of 1780, taken there and apparently abandoned by an irritating little black lady who means to make some changes. But what gives her or the Gearns family the right to interfere with history? How much involvement can David risk when his family is endangered? A lot, it turns out. The assignment is to convince Thomas Jefferson to eradicate slavery before it’s too late. Now is the time, during the Revolution when the flames of freedom burn their brightest. But Jefferson is the Governor of Virginia with a heartfelt plan of his own, albeit one doomed to failure. Influencing him is impossible, almost, and all the more difficult during a war. Our travelers are caught in skirmishes at Monticello and Williamsburg and finally in the key battle at Yorktown where their progress with Jefferson and the very survival of our country are newly threatened.

The world will change, one way or the other.

Genres: Time Travel, Fiction, Historical Fiction

486 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2011

About the author

I was born in New York, grew up in North Carolina, lived in Ohio, Hawaii, and Ontario, and am now incredibly well settled with my family in our northern California home. During an early stint as a professional student, I concentrated on English Literature and American History as an undergraduate, then continued with graduate studies in American Culture, Race Relations, and Law, followed by a career in high tech communications. There's no explaining all this, simply my interests at the time, but I'm sure it leaves me eminently qualified for Time Travel. Not to suggest I've been myself. Not yet.

Actually, it's American History that really stirs my imagination, always has. Well-applied fiction simply adds to the adventure and allows us to explore the past with a close up view. What was it like back then? How did people make the decisions that still affect us today? How did everyday Americans take that crucial step to split from the mother country, or to shed the cruel shackles of slavery, no matter the risk. What would we have done?

I love the History as much as I enjoy an imaginative tale, and I believe I've been faithful to both in "An Extended Journey." Months of research were a labor of love, expanding the possibilities yet keeping me on track with 18th century settings and recorded events that are as factual as they might be. I hope you'll enjoy this journey as your own.

Paul Sherman
"An Extended Journey"
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FQSVWI

Reviews

[Scott Spotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many reviewers have noted, this book is noble. This book consists of a family's efforts (through main character, the father, named David Gearns) as they travel from 2006 to 1780, in the midst of the American Revolution, to abolish slavery.

I sure learned a lot about the process of manumission, which I found out to mean the freedom of a slave. The description of the complex legal documents to effect a one-time manumission for one slave in Virginia was very interesting as the documents are detailed one by one. The author has done his homework!

THE GOOD POINTS

The novel is inspiring and asks the reader to imagine acting for the greater good.

The author clearly knows his history through his description of the social and political factors of the day, in the 1780's. He describes with conviction the shelter, food, military strategy, clothing, and geography of the times.

The main character, David Gearns, is a main character with whom we can all identify. He is earnest, resolute, a little hesitant, yet brave when the times require it. He is devoted to his family. His two pre-teen daughters humanize the story. His wife, Monica, is equally pure of heart and bold.

I loved the conversations with Thomas Jefferson. I liked the way he spoke as a leader, even in casual conversation with the main character. Unlike other books that try to defer to the greatness of famous historical figures by giving them as little stage presence as possible, as if somehow more exposure would diminish them, Jefferson is front and center during the second half of this novel. He is magnified this way, not belittled. Another title for this book could have been, "My Conversations with Thomas Jefferson." It's always fascinating to imagine going back in time and spending days, not a few moments, with one of the greatest figures of American history. What if we could go back into time to meet and interact with Abraham Lincoln? John F. Kennedy? Winston Churchill? Pablo Picasso?

THE OKAY POINTS

This book has too many scenes, especially at the beginning, that do not serve the use that the number of sentences or pages deserves. I understand at the beginning the author wants to set out David Gearns' background, as a business executive, and his reasons for visiting colonial Williamsburg. But we all are familiar with corporate executives and colonial Williamsburg in today's time. Also, David Gearns' time is 2006, which is quite recent, and so we do not need exploration of his usual place in time. Even some scenes during the Gearns' time in historical times didn't seem needed. Some major chopping of the story would be helpful in devouring this novel with relish.

The concept of a major historical figure enabling the Gearns family to arrive back into Time is intriguing, but raises more questions. How did she acquire the power to do so? Why did she drop off the Gearns into 1780 without warning? I understand there is an explanation that they wouldn't be believing of her at first, but then the story sets out that the family has to survive historical times for several months before they even find out how they got there. What if plans backfired and they changed history for the worse (which the book tantalizingly offers, then pulls back into the conventional outcome of history.)

SOME THOUGHTS

The novel compellingly considers what happens if a small group of determined people go back into history to change it for the better. This begs the question, what is "better?" Certainly, the abolition of slavery is an excellent reason. However, what is there to stop a fanatic, perhaps a Confederacy modern day fan, from going back into history to help the Confederate States win the American Civil War?

We do not learn how the Gearns' change of history affects the future in 2006. This would be interesting. Would the Gearns even exist if they went back to 2006? Would the succession of Presidents have been exactly the same? What happens to the estimated 620,000 Americans who died in the subsequent Civil War, which is presumably cancelled? And the multiplier effect of lives saved and new families created?

OVERALL

This is a great book. As mentioned, I loved the attention to historical detail, and the conversations with Thomas Jefferson. You'll enjoy it!

[Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so great. It is the story of David and Monica and their two little daughters. They go for a visit to Colonial Williamsburg and are magically teleported through time to 1780. The author writes such vivid descriptions and such masterful prose that I found myself sucked in and caring about the characters and their plight from page one. They find themselves on an unlikely quest to abolish slavery in Virginia but in the whole of the United States all during the revolutionary war. Revising history as we know it, leaves you with the thought that the protagonist of course will fail to maintain historical accuracy with reality but this book made me feel pride and patriotism. How great would the United States of been without slavery and no Civil War. Mid way through this book I feared for the welfare of slaves and thankfully the author excluded some of the worst graphic inhumane things that would happen to slaves...as depicted in "Roots" Because, the author excluded those things I highly recommend this book to everyone. I believe it should be required reading in every high school in America.

So, there are those reading this saying...but I am not into fantasy/sci-fi books. This is heart felt real book with some fantastical elements...if you like history especially colonial American history pick this up.

[Harv Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a noble novel.

A white family--wife, husband, two young daughters--go time traveling together back to when Thomas Jefferson was a Governor, and had not yet been elected President, during the Revolutionary War. Their mission, should they decide to accept it (actually, they have no choice but to accept their mission, if they ever want to have any hope of getting back to their own time), is to persuade Jefferson to end slavery decades early. The family also gets dragged into the actual fighting of the war, after debating with Governor Jefferson, battles that are not in any history books; strong evidence that their actions in the past are drastically altering what will one day be their own future home (Home no more?)

The time travel mechanics of Paul Sherman's novel are unexplained. It may have something to do with a special place. There is a Black Time Travel Guide who compels their journey into the past, who appears in the text sometimes as an older lady, and sometimes as a young girl.

[This is the first time I have tried doing status updates on a book on the GoodReads site, as I was reading it, so I'll be interested to see what happens when I click SAVE. Will my status updates be linked with the review? Will they disappear? And this is disturbing: there is no preview button to click on so I can double-check my HTML. So I won't be going from status updates directly to the review again.]

The drama in the first half of AN EXTENDED JOURNEY is very understated. Paul's writing is strong, however, with enough quirks to keep me reading. But the action is so low-key that I can't guarantee other readers will be held to Paul's spell. Girls playing with Black and white Barbie dolls, and the way the girls talk about them during their play is what finally convinces Jefferson that, hey, this really is a time traveling family from the future! Nice touch.

The "End-Slavery-Early" notion intrigued me, and I was curious how it would play out within Paul's vision. Paul's time traveling family is presented as an integral unit that would rather remain together no matter what. This took a bit of suspension of disbelief from me. If some Time Travel Master kidnapped me and my family, forced us into a distant past and told us what we must do, even if I believed in the mission, I would be inclined to take a stand: "Send my family back, now! I'll jump through hoops for you, but my wife and children go back now to where they belong or I'll do everything I can to wreck your plans!"

I was also intrigued by Paul's story, because Ending Slavery Early, during the Revolutionary War is a HUGE change! The idea fascinated me because that would mean a Severely Altered Future. Not sure if the time traveling family would even have a future to return to! Presumably, their proper time would be so changed for the better that it would no longer be Home. The law of unintended consequences could also mean that the future would be worse. I was looking forward to what the changed future was like in Paul's vision.

I think Paul Sherman has a sequel or 20 for AN EXTENDED JOURNEY, if he wants to write them. I don't quite buy the happy ending where top-down declarations from Thomas Jefferson and George Washington and others end slavery early. I foresee enormous resistance from the Southern Colonies. Rather than prevent an eventual Civil War, it might precipitate an immediate Civil War, or an actual splitting of the colonies into two nations. And again, I want to see how 2013 is improved by ending slavery early.

AN EXTENDED JOURNEY could use some copy-editing and a fresh upload. (Is Cathy in the House?) The version on my Kindle suffered from single-quote curlies often pointing the wrong direction (frequently enough that it kept distracting me from the story); and occasionally double-quote curlies pointing wrong also. And some other minor issues. I would also get rid of the micro-space between paragraphs.

@hg47

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some places on earth where you wouldn't immediately know that you were slipping into the past. One such place is Colonial Williamsburg where the past is alive and well. But the past will recognize your family in their Mickey Mouse rain ponchos trying to buy lemonade with worthless currency as not being from around there (or from around then). Fortunately, you can just claim that you're from the exotic and mysterious land of California, and all will be well. Such is the case for David who suddenly finds himself stuck in the middle of the American Revolution with his wife and 2 young daughters.

It's not often that you find a time travel tale featuring little girls playing Barbie dolls with Thomas Jefferson. I'd venture to say you've never read such a tale before. The author does an amazing job of making the family's time travel adventures realistic whether they're failing at riding a horse or wishing for a hot shower. You might even find yourself looking for the town's bakery online, hoping to find that it's a real place. I also got the idea that the author's real-life family probably resembles the family in the book (and Paul says that it very much does).

At the heart of the story is a mission that is bequeathed to the family to help end slavery before the country becomes a nation. This is no easy task, and the steps that the family make to this end create ripples in time that seem to hurtle them toward disaster. Is it possible for them to make the changes that they've been asked to make? If so, will the results be better?

As I read, I found myself re-analyzing the faults of the creation of our government. As a child, I was taught that we had the best government system in the world and that it had no shortcomings. Ah, the faith of a child. Even as a college student, I thought The Federalist Papers was the best thing since sliced bread. Some of the ideas are good, but I think we could have done better. In analyzing it from the stance of what could have been done better, it seems that giving so much power to the states to do their own thing was a bad idea. Rights of every group from women to slaves to homosexuals have been undermined at the state level rather than the national level. Of course, the founders of this country were trying to eradicate the faults they found in England's unitary government by swinging over to a federal system of government. But in everything from education to human rights, it has failed us. But I'm digressing completely from the book itself as the author has his own ideas on how to solve the slavery problem.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. I did start skimming toward the end as we get into the thick of Revolutionary war battles. Battle scenes and chase scenes in books or movies just aren't my thing unless they're done in a unique way or are strongly tied to the storyline (like earlier in the novel). And I have to say that I was a tad bit disappointed at the ending because I wanted to see the final results of all the ripples of change that the family had made in time. Perhaps the idea was to leave the book open for a sequel which would be interesting indeed.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the characters in this book. David and his family were very real to me and I felt for them.
The writing style read much like I was having conversation with David's mind, but minus any digression (that would be annoying!)I liked this. I liked David and related to him because I live, what I believe to be, an upstanding "do the right thing" lifestyle based on strong convictions and morals. I have an amazing husband that I feel absolutely completes me, and better yet, I am certain he feels that same way about me. Our young son is also the piece of the puzzle we had no idea was missing! In short, I related to David's marriage and family. I wanted to invite them over for cocktails.

I was especially interested in reading this book because I am quite interested in American history, specifically the years surrounding the Revolutionary war. I had no idea that the main mission of the Gearns family would be to stop slavery, so I admit I was disappointed at first. I hoped that the family would witness key moments in assembly or critical battles fought. But, this is not the books fault. It is mine. There are very few time travel novels that go back to the American Revolution.

I am not a big fan of 1st person narrative, but I don't want to hold the book responsible for that, either.

The book was simple in terms of plot line. There were virtually no sub-plots or any weaving of troubles that needed to come together in the end. Maybe because the 1st person narrative did not allow for this.
All in all my memories of the book will be very "Kumbaya". I felt true joy in the power of people at the end of the book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!! I enjoyed this a lot, and it's clear that the author really knows his stuff regarding Colonial history. I also love his writing style, and would love to read more from this author. My only criticism is that the story seemed to get a little bogged down for me during the chapters that detail the battles of the American Revolutionary War. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about time travel, early American politics, colonial history, or the American Revolutionary War.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Paul on GoodReads, and then started to chat about time travel rules and paradoxes, and only lately I have read his book. It did not disappoint me at all! :)
The first thing I liked, since the first chapter, is the writing style. Clear, swift, and catching. Especially considering that he keeps on thinking, talking and writing in 'first person' for over 400 pages.
As a non-american, I have to add that I learnt a lot of American history. And, of course, being a time travel fan, I enjoyed the plot!

[Grumpus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good premise but the book just lumbered along. While there were moments of excitement, during much of the book nothing was happening and often left me wondering why it was there. This is the reason that this was the book that wouldn’t end. Even when I thought the story wound down and could have been wrapped up, it went off on another tangent that could have been eliminated.

This is revolutionary historical fiction that is right in my wheelhouse but sadly, fell short of what it could have been.

[Nate Van Coops · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a fun ride. A chance to spend time at the genesis of the United States and not just witness history but ask the question, could we have done better? It’s an intriguing question and Paul Sherman gives us a tale that is as educational as it is thought provoking. His excellent research of the period shines through the details of the story without drowning you in them. Having just finished Jack Finney’s “Time and Again,” prior to this, I was leery of getting into another historical time period that relied too heavily on description, but I didn’t need to worry. Paul Sherman writes in a style that is a pleasure to read. His descriptions stay where they belong, in the background, giving you a vivid backdrop to the story that makes you feel right at home in the century without detracting from the action and the characters.

It had been a long time since American History class for me so I jumped into this book with only a hazy recollection of the timeline of events during the Revolutionary War. That worked out well because it kept me guessing as to where the story was headed. This is very much a historical book despite its protagonists, David Gearns and family, being from 2006. The time travel elements are not science fiction, a fact that is noted in the blurb. A reader should definitely start this story without expectations of time travel methods themselves being a major part of the story. The method is vague and if you keep questioning how it works you will just end up with more unanswered questions by the end. It’s best to just leave that bit alone and suspend disbelief. There is some satisfaction on the time travel front as our visitors from the future wrestle with their effects on history and the goals of their unexpected mission, but much of that is left for the reader to unravel and hypothesize about on their own.

The highlights of the book for me were getting to know one of our nation’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, and experiencing the world of the 1780s though Paul Sherman’s pleasurable writing style. His casual dialogue and down to earth characters keep you invested in the story without causing a disconnect based on the time period. In the first person narrative we view the world through David’s eyes and can laugh along with his difficulties in adjusting to a life that requires buckled shoes and early morning attempts at horsemanship while trying not to appear a fool in front of one of America’s first heroes. Also, the contrast in world-views between a modern, liberal Californian and an 18th century Virginian, made for fun and interesting reading.

There were only a few things that kept this from being a five-star read for me, and other readers may not fret over them. I found the fact that the plot was linked so closely to real historical events to be both a positive and a negative. While I enjoyed experiencing key moments in American history through David’s eyes, there were lulls where nothing of historical interest was happening on the timeline so the story also drifted into territory where nothing much was going on. I feel the personal elements of the Gearns family dynamics helped with that problem, as they were an endearing group, but the problems they faced as a time travelling family were usually taken care of rather quickly. It seemed that everyone they met was just so unfailingly nice to them that it robbed some of the tension from the story. I would have been okay seeing them struggle a little harder to adapt and not have had their problems so neatly resolved for them.
I also felt the issue of slavery, which is a key part of the book, was handled rather gently. I loved the questions raised by this particular plot, especially the main one, that we could have done better at the outset of our country, but I also thought the issue could have been delved into in a more gritty manner. The Gearns family was consistently PC about the issue, so much so that I don’t think a single criticism is ever made about a black character. (Except Harriet, who is her own ball of wax.) I would have been okay seeing the Gearns family struggle more with the inherent racism of the period. Most of the slave owners they encountered seemed to be on the verge of releasing all their slaves anyway. It made for a lot of very likeable and sympathetic characters, but not a lot of detestable villains. Maybe I am just one of those readers who wants more characters to hate. Luckily we had the British oppressors and they proved quite despicable toward the end of the tale. Once the finale commenced, I read quickly because I really wanted to see how things unfolded.

I really enjoyed this extended journey. It felt like I had myself taken a vacation into the world of the 1780s and made some excellent friends in the process. The combination of historical detail and immersive writing puts you right in the scene and lets you feel a part of a nation being born. The questions it raises in your mind linger after the story is finished and I think that is the best kind of literature. I tip my tri-corn hat to Paul Sherman for letting me into his vivid world and being such an excellent guide through American history. I would definitely embark on another trip to the past with him at the helm.

[Marcha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptionally well-written and flawlessly edited story has everything a good time travel story demands. Note, however, that it's more fantasy than science fiction since the means of delivery to the past is in the realms of the paranormal. Thus, don't expect some exotic high tech means to remove the characters from the present time. This detail, indeed, is but a moot point given the tremendous message of this meticulously researched historical novel, but I wanted to throw it out there just in case you're expecting sci-fi.

More often than not, time travel stories have more of a philosophical theme as they tread the line between fantasy, history and "what if" speculations. I recommend this story to those interested in American History, particularly the period around the Revolutionary War. The author's research is apparent in the convincing details that take the reader back to another but not necessarily simpler time.

This story features David Dearns and his family which comprises his wife, Monica, and two young daughters, Jane and Katelyn, who are unexpectedly transported from modern times back to Colonial Williamsburg in 1781. The transition is great, given they're visiting that location in modern times and thus surrounded by numerous individuals dressed in period costumes and buildings that date back to the time of the American Revolution, which is in progress. You can sense their confusion, particularly when they suddenly realize not only where but when they are.

This event was not simply coincidence, however, but clearly a matter of being chosen to accomplish a specific mission at the behest of a mysterious black woman they know only as Aunt Harriet. Their task is to intervene with Thomas Jefferson in a manner that convinces him to end slavery as part of the yet-to-be-written American Constitution. Since I want to avoid spoilers, that's all I'll say about plot details so future readers can fully enjoy the story as it unfolds.

There were some areas where the story seemed to drag, but it was so well-written that the slow pace was forgivable. It also served a purpose in establishing the time, place and mood of the times as this 21st Century family gradually acclimates to life in the late 1700s. If you're a history buff, you're likely to thoroughly enjoy it. A bit more culture shock would have added to the realism and perhaps picked up the pace in those pages capturing the details of life at that time. The plot action definitely accelerated toward the middle and took off from there with well-sustained suspense.

Historical details were plentiful and expertly integrated. The matter of changing history and the various paradoxes introduced by the family's presence were addressed in a clever and sometimes unexpected manner, such as the premature albeit inadvertent introduction of modern technology. There were numerous places where I laughed out loud at some of the main character's witticisms and sarcastic thoughts though his propensity for profanity was a bit troubling and could turn off certain potential readers. Many religious folks have a keen interest in American History and are often more forgiving of an expletive here and there, which is all too common today, than profanity. It wasn't excessive by any means, and was mainly in the first part of the book, but would have earned a few cringes from various folks I know who would otherwise love the story.

Matters of free choice were suitably addressed and demonstrated the "butterfly effect", i.e., where one small event institutes major change. On a personal as well as collective level, I'm sure all of us could point to various decisions that could have been made in a more constructive manner given 20:20 hindsight. The decisions of those who run countries certainly affect thousands and even millions and the consequences of bad ones splash on all concerned, many of whom suffer far more than the perpetrator.

As physicist Michio Kaku and various others have noted, parallel dimensions are a possibility included in quantum theory. Some have even speculated that every possible outcome of every decision ever made is represented somewhere, which I frankly don't buy into. Nonetheless, starting a new track as a solution to time travel stories, e.g., Spielberg's "Back to the Future" trilogy, works here for the sake of reader satisfaction. I'm not a big fan of historical novels, but the author's strong writing skills kept me immersed in the story. More often than not, I find my inner editor slipping out while reading which, to his credit, did not occur. Such exceptional writing alone makes this book worth reading.

[Garrett Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author challenges the reader to consider the hypocrisy within us all, and how even the best and most enlightened in society, can often fail to apply the very truths they argue others have been blinded to, or intentionally ignore.

The story centers on the American Revolution which produced a Bill of Rights declaring that all men are created equal, at a time when many citizens were treated by the new government as if they were born to, and could not escape, inequality. Blacks were enslaved, women were subjugated to men, and the whole of society was at risk of a new monarchy being formed by the rich and powerful.

The question is then put to us: what would you do if you found yourself face to face with Thomas Jefferson and could influence him to act in the best interests of not only the country, but also his mistress and mixed-race slave, Sally Hemings, and their descendants.

Would you have the courage to speak, to act? Would you risk harm to yourself and your family? Would you risk an outcome that could go in a direction other than what you had intended, leaving those you meant to help worse off than if you had not become involved?

The events plays out in story that is usually lighthearted, but sometimes sobering, and even at moments disappointing. The moral I took away, was that if you don’t try at all, you have certainly failed. If you do try, even if you don’t achieve all you had hoped for, your efforts flow into the river of influence that will eventually bring necessary change.

The book is well-written, enjoyable, thoughtful and a darned good read.

[Heather(Gibby) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written time travel story. As I am not terribly familiar with US history, I can't comment on its historical accuracy. It feels like a good friend is telling you an amazing story. The exact vehicle which allows the characters is not fully explained, but it is through the special abilities of "Harriet" . If you are looking for hard core scince fiction, this is not the book for you, but a great historical fiction which includes time travel, this is a great book.

[Peter Boody · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ride it has been following the Gearns family through Revolutionary War Virginia, meeting a cast of memorable characters including Thomas Jefferson and his family. Mr. Sherman writes beautifully and is in full command of his craft, not to mention the historical facts. Highly recommended.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of a family going back in time to try to eliminate slavery from our history during the Revolutionary War! It was wonderful to "meet" Thomas Jefferson and his family, as well as other historical figures. Sometimes I did wonder if the people of Virginia would really be as ready to accept the change. And sometimes 21st century ways were too readily accepted.

There were a few things I did not like. First, it could easily have been written without curse words! Most annoying! The book itself was a bit longer than necessary. As stated above, it did not strike me as "real" to have people accepting 21st century ways right away. For instance, the equal acceptance of Monica into things.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book and we all must wish that slavery had been eradicated from the beginning of the United States.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too long. This book is badly in need of a good editor who would trim it back down to the actual story.

Also, not being American, and knowing diddly-squat about American history, I think I missed a lot. I think I was supposed to be going "oh, we're at Williamsburg, wow". But I don't know that stuff, so anything I was supposed to feel by places and people meet in the book, went right over my head.

[Juli Pennock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very well written and definitely imaginative, but didn't resonate with me. I skimmed most of the ending, sadly. Just not a period of history that holds a lot of fascination for me and the fight scenes didn't hold my interest (it's NOT the writing, it's ME, swear).

I may give it another try in the future. I'm not sorry I read (most of) it, but it wasn't really my cuppa (tea).

[Chris Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Maria Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like about 60% of the book. Then I became bored. So many details about slavery, revolution. I skipped some pages and went straight to the final. Desappointed.