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A Token of Time
On the run from his family, Zachary Hamilton was cursed with a gift he neither wanted nor asked for. The recent murder of his lover unleashed a chain of events revealing Zachary's connection to the recently deceased legendary matinee idol, Marc Castle. Attempting to unravel the mystery behind the movie star, Zachary encountered an ancient relic shrouded in history and folklore, leading to a discovery so shocking it altered his very existence – challenging everything Zachary knew to be true – to believe that the impossible, was possible.
418 pages, ebook
First published April 20, 2012
13 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Ethan Day
22 books745 followersWelcome to Ethan Day's Goodreads Profile. I write mainly contemporary GLBT Romance Novels, but who knows what the future might bring and what other genres I may dive into.
Hopefully, you’ll find my books to be sexy as well as fun. Sex and romance, should be fun! If it isn’t, then perhaps you’re not doing it right.
I hope you love my characters as much as I do. With any luck they’ll inspire you the way they do me.
For a full Bio & more insight into my zany little mind, please visit my website listed above.
- I can also be found on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/ethandayonline
Hopefully, you’ll find my books to be sexy as well as fun. Sex and romance, should be fun! If it isn’t, then perhaps you’re not doing it right.
I hope you love my characters as much as I do. With any luck they’ll inspire you the way they do me.
For a full Bio & more insight into my zany little mind, please visit my website listed above.
- I can also be found on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/ethandayonline
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 7, 2017
Ethan Day is one of the authors I greatly admire, especially due to his particular style of writing - a unique blend of humour, irony, satire - that makes me laugh, engages my mind and tugs at my heart (often all at the same time). I did not think he could utterly surprise me yet again, at least until I started reading 'A Token of Time'. Lisa's review helped me anticipate an excellent book, but it still overwhelmed me...
With this piece, the author has considerably stretched his horizons and created something completely different from previous works. Because of the themes used - heartache, loss, mystery, murder, psychotic characters - the overall tone and style of writing have changed accordingly. The story goes far beyond a traditional romance or time travel plot. There are also more light-hearted moments, elements specific to a thriller and even a touch of horror at the end. Everything comes together in an intricate whole. I know it kept me glued to my reader until I could finish late into the night.
If looking for a complex novel, I encourage everyone to give this one a try. I am very confident that it will not disappoint. Highly recommended!
With this piece, the author has considerably stretched his horizons and created something completely different from previous works. Because of the themes used - heartache, loss, mystery, murder, psychotic characters - the overall tone and style of writing have changed accordingly. The story goes far beyond a traditional romance or time travel plot. There are also more light-hearted moments, elements specific to a thriller and even a touch of horror at the end. Everything comes together in an intricate whole. I know it kept me glued to my reader until I could finish late into the night.
If looking for a complex novel, I encourage everyone to give this one a try. I am very confident that it will not disappoint. Highly recommended!
May 15, 2012
3.5 stars
Not really a thorough review, more like some impressions about the book.
It's always interesting to see the author going where he (or she) hasn't gone before and this is certainly something new for Ethan Day.
The change is most successful in the writing style and the overall tone and mood it created. I liked that very much, because it was so different from Day's usual affair and it still felt natural. On the other hand, the story had too many plot lines and I felt that neither one was fully and satisfyingly explored. Let's see - we have the story of Zachary running from his family with Nick, time travel and Zachary and Marc's love story, the case of serial killer, etc. I felt pulled this way and that way by the story and I couldn't quite buy the neat ending where everything was wrapped up nicely with a little bow. The protagonists lost some depth by being pitted against over-the-top, batshit crazy, Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane villains.
And I don't believe I'm going to say this, but... There was waaaay too much sex in the story. Day is one of my favorite authors when it comes to writing romantic without sappy (which I am not fond of) AND super hot scenes. But, by the second half of the story, I started skimming through the sex scenes so I could get to the story.
It has been almost two years since my favorite Day's book - At Piper's Point - was published. I think it's time he tops that one. No, this isn't a bad book, not at all, but Day can do better. Less complicated, but with more depth.
Not really a thorough review, more like some impressions about the book.
It's always interesting to see the author going where he (or she) hasn't gone before and this is certainly something new for Ethan Day.
The change is most successful in the writing style and the overall tone and mood it created. I liked that very much, because it was so different from Day's usual affair and it still felt natural. On the other hand, the story had too many plot lines and I felt that neither one was fully and satisfyingly explored. Let's see - we have the story of Zachary running from his family with Nick, time travel and Zachary and Marc's love story, the case of serial killer, etc. I felt pulled this way and that way by the story and I couldn't quite buy the neat ending where everything was wrapped up nicely with a little bow. The protagonists lost some depth by being pitted against over-the-top, batshit crazy, Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane villains.
And I don't believe I'm going to say this, but... There was waaaay too much sex in the story. Day is one of my favorite authors when it comes to writing romantic without sappy (which I am not fond of) AND super hot scenes. But, by the second half of the story, I started skimming through the sex scenes so I could get to the story.
It has been almost two years since my favorite Day's book - At Piper's Point - was published. I think it's time he tops that one. No, this isn't a bad book, not at all, but Day can do better. Less complicated, but with more depth.
May 15, 2012
This was really really good. I am not going to waste words as Cole will say it all for me;) Love you Cole!!!
I will say this. The story line is very different from Ethan's other work, yet there is still trademark Ethan written all over. I really did not know where or how this story was going to progress or end for that matter, but was very happy with the result!!!
I will say this. The story line is very different from Ethan's other work, yet there is still trademark Ethan written all over. I really did not know where or how this story was going to progress or end for that matter, but was very happy with the result!!!
June 1, 2013
Love transcends time is the theme of this book. Mr. Day never ceases to wow me with his breathtaking and moving romance novels.
In A TOKEN OF TIME, I'm moved to tears several times. At first, the story starts out slow and sluggish. The reader is treated to a freaked out young man, Zachary Hamilton. He's from a family of great wealth, yet he's on the run, hiding from them. As the story unfolds and his past comes to light, it's both strange and disturbing. The pace of the book speeds up and becomes a page-turner.
Zach possesses a psychic ability to see an object's "memories". Basically, he can hold a pocket watch or picture frame and see what happened in a moment in time from the perspective of someone who is close to the object. Essentially, he slips on someone else's memories and is able to feel the emotion while seeing a past event.
This ability is tied to the firstborn daughter in his family. For a male to receive this gift is unheard of and his sister is not happy. Zach's sister wants all the abilities, even if it means Zach's death.
The genre for this tale is hard to define. With psychic abilities and time travel, it is a bit paranormal. Yet it also contains a bit of murder mystery suspense. This story contains it all. The world building, as well as the character development, is excellent. Watching the personal growth of a young cowering Zachary to a self-assured confident Zachary is a pleasure. Through magic, Zachary is transported back into time which allows him to come into his own. With the love of Marc Castle, Zachary is able to find his strength and determination. The love connection between Zach and Marc is what really makes this story so good.
Mr. Day excels at showing how true love can really be. To find that special someone where sacrifice is not just a noble concept but a state of existence is splendid. Mr. Day lovingly details little acts of kindness and grand gestures of affection to build a rich romance. His characters are realistic with their all too human flaws. Yet they still overcome misunderstandings, unintentional slights and grievous mistakes to do the right thing. The hardships he puts his characters through to achieve their loving bond is extreme at times.
This story fully shows love is patient, kind and above all, willing to take a chance. The way love and relationships are portrayed in this tale speaks of the author's idea of companionship as well as a yearning for that perfect fit. Mr. Day also illustrates how much work is put into creating a strong relationship. This subtle and elegant demonstration is fabulous.
This m/m romance is highly recommended to those who cherish the "love will conquer all" theme.
June 14, 2012
First off let me say that for anyone thinking this was going to be another Ethan Day book with the adorably funny leading man with alot of attitude that is so funny that you laugh till you cry, well think again. There are some comical moments in A Token of Time,however this is an entirely different side of Ethan Day that you have never seen before. This is one book that is totally on a whole different level and will surprise you immensely.
I am open to admitting when I first began reading it I was doubting that I was going to like this novel. It took a bit to get into, BUT whatever you do don't stop reading the beginning is crucial to the entire story as a whole. You will see why.
There is so much to this story from murder, mystery, violence, magic and of course love and romance! What is of the utmost importance is how far would you go to be with the one you love?
I never believe in putting spoilers in my reviews and I will not here, know that this is an excellent read so much so that after I read it on my Nook I went out and puchased a hard copy it was that good.
Ethan did an excellent job in linking everything together perfectly in an appropriate and not rushed/forced storyline manner. I am looking forward to further works like this from him but I still love the adorable goofs in his romantic comedies as well. This one left you feeling good and overall satisfied. I will say that yes some tissues are required not for tears of laughter but tears of heartfelt love and emotion.
Thank you Ethan for sharing this story with us.
I am open to admitting when I first began reading it I was doubting that I was going to like this novel. It took a bit to get into, BUT whatever you do don't stop reading the beginning is crucial to the entire story as a whole. You will see why.
There is so much to this story from murder, mystery, violence, magic and of course love and romance! What is of the utmost importance is how far would you go to be with the one you love?
I never believe in putting spoilers in my reviews and I will not here, know that this is an excellent read so much so that after I read it on my Nook I went out and puchased a hard copy it was that good.
Ethan did an excellent job in linking everything together perfectly in an appropriate and not rushed/forced storyline manner. I am looking forward to further works like this from him but I still love the adorable goofs in his romantic comedies as well. This one left you feeling good and overall satisfied. I will say that yes some tissues are required not for tears of laughter but tears of heartfelt love and emotion.
Thank you Ethan for sharing this story with us.
May 21, 2012
This book is difficult to rate. The first chapters were "What are you going on about" for me and what really did my head in was why anyone would time shift 50 years to be with someone you didn't know without thinking about any the consequences. Okay I know that Zac's life was being threatened by his sister and that she had managed to kill people Zac was close to but the plot device seemed a bit lame to me.
The saving grace for this book is the romance between Zac and Marc, the development was beautifully crafted and you really got the intensity of feeling between the two. Some parts of the book were sublime in their writing, like when Marc takes Zac to meet his mother and Zac enables the two to communicate - simply wonderful.
Overall I think maybe Ethan Day has taken too many themes for this book - paranormal, time travel, romance, murder mystery from the past and the final result is slightly flawed. Authors who succeed with time travel books are few and far between and this book certainly has a few inconsistencies.
I gave the book 3 stars because of the romance, the wrting style and the character development - even the minor characters were real. All in all I felt it was atmospheric in its' portrayal of LA/Hollywood of the fifties, how closeted the studio system was and how the sensibilities of the fifties were radically different to those of 2008.
The saving grace for this book is the romance between Zac and Marc, the development was beautifully crafted and you really got the intensity of feeling between the two. Some parts of the book were sublime in their writing, like when Marc takes Zac to meet his mother and Zac enables the two to communicate - simply wonderful.
Overall I think maybe Ethan Day has taken too many themes for this book - paranormal, time travel, romance, murder mystery from the past and the final result is slightly flawed. Authors who succeed with time travel books are few and far between and this book certainly has a few inconsistencies.
I gave the book 3 stars because of the romance, the wrting style and the character development - even the minor characters were real. All in all I felt it was atmospheric in its' portrayal of LA/Hollywood of the fifties, how closeted the studio system was and how the sensibilities of the fifties were radically different to those of 2008.
April 27, 2012
A bond that stands the test of time, a plot with many twists.
Ethan Day is a wonderful writer of what I would define as romantic comedy. I've read his whole catalog of books and can highly recommend every one, but this book has some serious dramatic teeth. While it has its chuckles sprinkled here and there, this book is more about love and loss, and sacrifice. the author took his time cementing a strong emotional, and of course sexual bond between the two main men. There is a large fantasy/time travel element that is fun to explore, but at the same time created a little whiplash for me. I think it says good things about the author that I want to go back and read in between the lines, see the missing footage so to speak. I can't think of what this book does not have, it's got romance, a sprinkle of laughs, adventure, suspense, mystery, gore (yes GORE), hot steamy passion, and it does not force feed you all the answers. The only reason I did not give it five stars is because I need to fill in the time lost, what John and Max discovered/did...I'm just a greedy little reader! It's like someone threw The Notebook, Back to the Future, and Indiana Jones in a blender, added a heavy dose of man-love and out Came A Token of Time! Needless to say, it's a must read!
Ethan Day is a wonderful writer of what I would define as romantic comedy. I've read his whole catalog of books and can highly recommend every one, but this book has some serious dramatic teeth. While it has its chuckles sprinkled here and there, this book is more about love and loss, and sacrifice. the author took his time cementing a strong emotional, and of course sexual bond between the two main men. There is a large fantasy/time travel element that is fun to explore, but at the same time created a little whiplash for me. I think it says good things about the author that I want to go back and read in between the lines, see the missing footage so to speak. I can't think of what this book does not have, it's got romance, a sprinkle of laughs, adventure, suspense, mystery, gore (yes GORE), hot steamy passion, and it does not force feed you all the answers. The only reason I did not give it five stars is because I need to fill in the time lost, what John and Max discovered/did...I'm just a greedy little reader! It's like someone threw The Notebook, Back to the Future, and Indiana Jones in a blender, added a heavy dose of man-love and out Came A Token of Time! Needless to say, it's a must read!
June 16, 2012
As usual, Ethan day delivers on a slow-build sweet romance. Departing from what I've seen in some of his other works, Day builds a plot driven time-traveling romance, and yet manages to steer the story away from seeming utterly ridiculous. The more I read Day, the more I enjoy his writing style, comparable to feeling a cool breeze against your face while lazily whiling away a summer day in the country. Although my comparison is pure cheese, I know, I can find no better way to describe Day's ability to create an enjoyable, romantic story, with limited angst, in whatever scene he chooses to write.
May 1, 2012
Brilliant novel. I had such a great time reading this that I found myself going back after The End to certain favourite scenes. Great characters, and the author paints such a vivid backdrop for them. Delicious story. I really hated to come to the end and have to say goodbye to Zachary, Marc, Leo, Dave, and the others...
April 13, 2012
Highly enjoyable time-travel story.
August 19, 2017
A great page turner. I'm not sure that this falls into science fiction or the paranormal, but it certainly fulfils the romance genre. Zachary has gone through a lot in a very short span of his life thanks to a special 'gift' that usually only occurs in the females of his family. His 'gift', an ability to see into the past of an object. Because of his 'gift' he's on the run from his eldest sister who would normally have been the one to inherit the family trait. He's just lost his lover in an attack aimed at him when suddenly he finds himself the heir to a movie star. Part of the inheritance is a strange amulet on a gold chain. Will his abilities be enough to keep him safe from the powers within this amulet?
September 27, 2017
This is such a good book. I love the mystery and intrigue and little twists. It has everything I want in a book. There are a few spots that feel a little slow but once the story gets going I didn’t want to put it down.
It was hard for me to read what Zachary was going through. To lose a loved one is a brutal thing, especially when it's right in front of your eyes. He was just a kid still when he and Nick went on the run. So naive about the world but yet having to learn real quick what the world was all about. It was shocking to for him to see and it left him confused and not sure what to do. And having to figure out all these clues about this relic wasn't making life any easier, because of what the relic showed him. With all he had been through, it seemed like it just added more to what he was already dealing with.
Just as the blurb says, Marc is the mystery Zachary has to unravel. Marc was a man looking for a lost love when Zachary had met him the one time. He seemed so sad and lost himself. And Zachary remembered he felt a connection with the man. Maybe it was just the huge crush he had on him, but something drew him to those sad eyes of his. When he saw what the relic showed him, he understood why. The journey that Zachary now has to take, is unexpected and really added some interesting elements to this story! There was so much mystery surrounding this relic and what it could do. And watching Zachary trying to figure out all the clues and stop his family from doing harm kept me on the edge of my seat.
The hardest part of the books is going through all the grief that Zachary had to deal with. I cried along with him knowing his soul was just ripped apart. But he kept going. No matter how low he got, he kept going to find out why things were the way they were. He got help from the oddest of places, which added more to the mystery. What a journey for Zachary. What a read.
It was hard for me to read what Zachary was going through. To lose a loved one is a brutal thing, especially when it's right in front of your eyes. He was just a kid still when he and Nick went on the run. So naive about the world but yet having to learn real quick what the world was all about. It was shocking to for him to see and it left him confused and not sure what to do. And having to figure out all these clues about this relic wasn't making life any easier, because of what the relic showed him. With all he had been through, it seemed like it just added more to what he was already dealing with.
Just as the blurb says, Marc is the mystery Zachary has to unravel. Marc was a man looking for a lost love when Zachary had met him the one time. He seemed so sad and lost himself. And Zachary remembered he felt a connection with the man. Maybe it was just the huge crush he had on him, but something drew him to those sad eyes of his. When he saw what the relic showed him, he understood why. The journey that Zachary now has to take, is unexpected and really added some interesting elements to this story! There was so much mystery surrounding this relic and what it could do. And watching Zachary trying to figure out all the clues and stop his family from doing harm kept me on the edge of my seat.
The hardest part of the books is going through all the grief that Zachary had to deal with. I cried along with him knowing his soul was just ripped apart. But he kept going. No matter how low he got, he kept going to find out why things were the way they were. He got help from the oddest of places, which added more to the mystery. What a journey for Zachary. What a read.
April 30, 2012
Reviewed for Joyfully Jay (posted there 4/30/12)
Rating: 4.85 stars
Zachary Hamilton comes from a family endowed with special gifts. He has them as well and it has cost him everything. Zachary doesn't want his gift and his family doesn't think he should have it either. To "return it" is to die so Zachary and his love, Nick, have been on the run from the Hamilton family since they were teenagers. Living as fugitives has been hard and each time they think they are safe, the Hamiltons find them yet again. Then Zachary and Nick land in Los Angeles, California and their luck seems to change. A benefactor appears out of the blue, offering them a store for their antique business and a place to call home. And for a while they are happy. Until a bullet shatters their lives and Nick dies in Zachary's arms.
Zachary is consumed by his grief, refusing to leave his apartment until Dave, his assistant in the shop, pulls him out of his house and back into their shop. As Zachary tries to determine his next step regarding his family, he receives a phone call from a lawyer. It seems that Mark Castle, a famous movie star from the 50's has died and left Zachary the entire Castle estate, including an ancient relic. This powerful token will change Zachary's life and those around him if Zachary has the courage to use it. And so begins A Token In Time.
Well, what an amazing story. I read it twice before sitting down to write this review, not because I needed to but because I wasn't ready to let go of Zachary and Marc and all who come with them, past and present. I have been a fan of Ethan Day's books but A Token In Time represents a departure from the light comedic fiction I have come to expect from him. A Token In Time fluctuates between contemporary and historical romance under an umbrella of the supernatural and it does so beautifully. The story of Zachary Hamilton and Marc Castle flows like a Mobius strip from the year 2008 back to the 1950's and around again and never hits a false note.
Ethan Day has certainly done his research into life in the 50's and it shows without it coming across like an information dump. When Zachary (and the reader) land in Los Angeles circa 1958, the surprises are endless and sometimes very funny. Stereophonic Hi Fi is new and wonderful, Coke is Coke, and gas "costs a friggin' quarter". And the lack of the internet and Star Bucks come as an unhappy surprise to a young man accustomed to the everyday pluses of life in 2008. Oh it's so great to tag along with Zachary as he visits the West Hollywood Sears store and has to pick out pants that most certainly aren't low riders! Ethan Day's deft touch with comedy is everywhere without overwhelming the dark and angst filled romance behind A Token In Time. Ethan Day brought the 50's vividly back to life so much so that I was reaching for the iTunes store before the end of the book to recapture the sounds of the times.
And lets talk characters shall we? I have loved Ethan Days previous creations but the characters he has brought to this story are remarkable and have so much depth to them as to be unforgettable. Zachary is a complicated young man, beautiful, gifted, and still so full of joie de vivre through all his pain. But he doesn't fully come to life until he falls onto the sand and into 1958. Free from the mechanisms of his family, he starts to blossom and the love affair between Zachary and the reader snaps to life as well. Marc Castle too is rendered here in gorgeous Technicolor from his golden tan to white movie star smile. We come to love him dearly the more we get to know him. And don't get me started on Jonathon Reed, Max, Maddie, and Leo. The author keeps adding characters so real, so damn lovable that I wanted to hold onto them for dear life and not let them go. I am going to beg here, Ethan Day. Please consider giving us Jonathon and Max's story. Pretty please? With fuzzy swinging dice on top?
And lurking behind all of this is a constant menace, the dark we hide from, the monsters we know are under the bed. Skillfully, the dread increases, the anxiety ramps ups a notch after notch much like the music from the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. We know where the danger coming from in both eras but not how or when it will strike. And strike it does in stomach churning, heart stopping ways. Mystically, brutally rendered evil to balance the joy and love that infuses the rest of the story.
So why not give it 5 stars? Only because of the way the story begins. A minor quibble but it took me a little while to get accustomed to the manner in which Zachary and Nick's back story is told. I found it a little jumpy at the beginning, but it soon settles itself out and the reader gets sucked in this wonderful page turner not to be let out until the very last word of the epilogue. And you will love the end. Really, you will. And now I will say no more.
Cover: Winterheart Designs did the cover and they did an outstanding job of it. It looks like it came right off the book jacket of a novel from the 50's, both in color and illustration. It really couldn't be more perfect. I would love to have a copy of it for myself, framed and hung on the wall, it's that good.
Available from MLR Press, Amazon and ARe.
Rating: 4.85 stars
Zachary Hamilton comes from a family endowed with special gifts. He has them as well and it has cost him everything. Zachary doesn't want his gift and his family doesn't think he should have it either. To "return it" is to die so Zachary and his love, Nick, have been on the run from the Hamilton family since they were teenagers. Living as fugitives has been hard and each time they think they are safe, the Hamiltons find them yet again. Then Zachary and Nick land in Los Angeles, California and their luck seems to change. A benefactor appears out of the blue, offering them a store for their antique business and a place to call home. And for a while they are happy. Until a bullet shatters their lives and Nick dies in Zachary's arms.
Zachary is consumed by his grief, refusing to leave his apartment until Dave, his assistant in the shop, pulls him out of his house and back into their shop. As Zachary tries to determine his next step regarding his family, he receives a phone call from a lawyer. It seems that Mark Castle, a famous movie star from the 50's has died and left Zachary the entire Castle estate, including an ancient relic. This powerful token will change Zachary's life and those around him if Zachary has the courage to use it. And so begins A Token In Time.
Well, what an amazing story. I read it twice before sitting down to write this review, not because I needed to but because I wasn't ready to let go of Zachary and Marc and all who come with them, past and present. I have been a fan of Ethan Day's books but A Token In Time represents a departure from the light comedic fiction I have come to expect from him. A Token In Time fluctuates between contemporary and historical romance under an umbrella of the supernatural and it does so beautifully. The story of Zachary Hamilton and Marc Castle flows like a Mobius strip from the year 2008 back to the 1950's and around again and never hits a false note.
Ethan Day has certainly done his research into life in the 50's and it shows without it coming across like an information dump. When Zachary (and the reader) land in Los Angeles circa 1958, the surprises are endless and sometimes very funny. Stereophonic Hi Fi is new and wonderful, Coke is Coke, and gas "costs a friggin' quarter". And the lack of the internet and Star Bucks come as an unhappy surprise to a young man accustomed to the everyday pluses of life in 2008. Oh it's so great to tag along with Zachary as he visits the West Hollywood Sears store and has to pick out pants that most certainly aren't low riders! Ethan Day's deft touch with comedy is everywhere without overwhelming the dark and angst filled romance behind A Token In Time. Ethan Day brought the 50's vividly back to life so much so that I was reaching for the iTunes store before the end of the book to recapture the sounds of the times.
And lets talk characters shall we? I have loved Ethan Days previous creations but the characters he has brought to this story are remarkable and have so much depth to them as to be unforgettable. Zachary is a complicated young man, beautiful, gifted, and still so full of joie de vivre through all his pain. But he doesn't fully come to life until he falls onto the sand and into 1958. Free from the mechanisms of his family, he starts to blossom and the love affair between Zachary and the reader snaps to life as well. Marc Castle too is rendered here in gorgeous Technicolor from his golden tan to white movie star smile. We come to love him dearly the more we get to know him. And don't get me started on Jonathon Reed, Max, Maddie, and Leo. The author keeps adding characters so real, so damn lovable that I wanted to hold onto them for dear life and not let them go. I am going to beg here, Ethan Day. Please consider giving us Jonathon and Max's story. Pretty please? With fuzzy swinging dice on top?
And lurking behind all of this is a constant menace, the dark we hide from, the monsters we know are under the bed. Skillfully, the dread increases, the anxiety ramps ups a notch after notch much like the music from the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. We know where the danger coming from in both eras but not how or when it will strike. And strike it does in stomach churning, heart stopping ways. Mystically, brutally rendered evil to balance the joy and love that infuses the rest of the story.
So why not give it 5 stars? Only because of the way the story begins. A minor quibble but it took me a little while to get accustomed to the manner in which Zachary and Nick's back story is told. I found it a little jumpy at the beginning, but it soon settles itself out and the reader gets sucked in this wonderful page turner not to be let out until the very last word of the epilogue. And you will love the end. Really, you will. And now I will say no more.
Cover: Winterheart Designs did the cover and they did an outstanding job of it. It looks like it came right off the book jacket of a novel from the 50's, both in color and illustration. It really couldn't be more perfect. I would love to have a copy of it for myself, framed and hung on the wall, it's that good.
Available from MLR Press, Amazon and ARe.
March 19, 2017
Absolutely loved it. The way they first meet and then Zachary traveled back in time to meet young Marc reminded me of "Somewhere in time", a movie from the 80s with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. But while the movie was a drama and the lovers got separated forever, the book of course had a happy ending. I loved how Ethan Day took the time to develop the characters, to build their world and immerse us in their romance. And of course the paranormal side of the story made it even better. "Love conquers all", indeed. This was my first book by Ethan Day, but for sure it won't be the last.
May 12, 2012
I've had the hardest time trying to decide what star rating to give this one. It started out super slow for me, and I had to force myself to keep reading, hoping that it would get better.
As the blurb says, Zac's lover gets killed the same day as this really famous actor. The first hundred and fifty pages (151/938 in ibooks) were a lot of Zac suffering, and a lot of flashbacks of Zac's life with Nick... and not really very interesting flashbacks. I found myself having a hard time caring about learning about a character who was already dead when the book started.
Once Zac starts talking to Jonathan and learning more about Marc the story really picked up, and I was totally loving it. I think I was hooked from when they sat and watched the video showing Zac with Marc back in the 1950's.
Speaking of which, I have to admit I'm a big fan of time-travel stories. I love that I get to experience what a different time might have been like through the eyes of someone who's just as much an outsider in that time as I am. I ADORED that Ethan Day chose a time when the people Zac knew back then are still alive in the 2011 present. That made everything so much more intriguing for me, that Zac got to know both the younger and the older versions of some of these people. I also loved SO much that Zac was able to change things so that Max didn't die. I was totally cracking up when Max was giving Zac shit about the letter he'd left.
I also adored Marc and Zac. I loved each of them separately and just couldn't get enough of the two of them together. And I loved that I got to (re)live through some scenes Zac had seen from the future, and yet that Zac was able to change things just enough from the future we'd seen in the first part of the book that I could still be surprised.
The thing that I liked least about the book (and I know this may be silly, and that it is 100% my personal taste) was that Marc aged an extra 6 years before he came forward to Zac's time. It had made me a little uncomfortable from the outset that Zac was only 20/21 and Marc was 28... And then to add another six years onto that just made me uncomfortable. And, yes, I know that there are bigger age gaps in other books, and I haven't been bothered as much by those. I think it was maybe that Zac was just so YOUNG! Twenty and 34 sounds like a much bigger difference than 30 and 44 for example.
Overall, I loved the book. It was definitely different from any other Ethan Day book I've read, but it was still very well written and I still fell totally in love with the characters.
As the blurb says, Zac's lover gets killed the same day as this really famous actor. The first hundred and fifty pages (151/938 in ibooks) were a lot of Zac suffering, and a lot of flashbacks of Zac's life with Nick... and not really very interesting flashbacks. I found myself having a hard time caring about learning about a character who was already dead when the book started.
Once Zac starts talking to Jonathan and learning more about Marc the story really picked up, and I was totally loving it. I think I was hooked from when they sat and watched the video showing Zac with Marc back in the 1950's.
Speaking of which, I have to admit I'm a big fan of time-travel stories. I love that I get to experience what a different time might have been like through the eyes of someone who's just as much an outsider in that time as I am. I ADORED that Ethan Day chose a time when the people Zac knew back then are still alive in the 2011 present. That made everything so much more intriguing for me, that Zac got to know both the younger and the older versions of some of these people. I also loved SO much that Zac was able to change things so that Max didn't die. I was totally cracking up when Max was giving Zac shit about the letter he'd left.
I also adored Marc and Zac. I loved each of them separately and just couldn't get enough of the two of them together. And I loved that I got to (re)live through some scenes Zac had seen from the future, and yet that Zac was able to change things just enough from the future we'd seen in the first part of the book that I could still be surprised.
The thing that I liked least about the book (and I know this may be silly, and that it is 100% my personal taste) was that Marc aged an extra 6 years before he came forward to Zac's time. It had made me a little uncomfortable from the outset that Zac was only 20/21 and Marc was 28... And then to add another six years onto that just made me uncomfortable. And, yes, I know that there are bigger age gaps in other books, and I haven't been bothered as much by those. I think it was maybe that Zac was just so YOUNG! Twenty and 34 sounds like a much bigger difference than 30 and 44 for example.
Overall, I loved the book. It was definitely different from any other Ethan Day book I've read, but it was still very well written and I still fell totally in love with the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2013
I enjoyed this book and the story. The beginning was a little slow for me and took a bit to really get into, but once I got hooked I was all in. It's a very different Ethan Day story but it still hold on to that familiar spark that makes you love reading his stories.
At the end I just wanted more. I know a good book always leaves you wanting more, but there was just a couple of tiny things that made me feel unsettled or unfinished. And there were others things I was just plain curious about.
But all in all, despite my curious nature it was a great read.
At the end I just wanted more. I know a good book always leaves you wanting more, but there was just a couple of tiny things that made me feel unsettled or unfinished. And there were others things I was just plain curious about.
But all in all, despite my curious nature it was a great read.
September 6, 2012
Interesting & intriguing so far.
Told in Ethan Day style with a ton of flashbacks, but without the comedy stylings. Paranormal? Historical? All of the above?
Not your typical M/M love story. Unless time travel, evil, and objects with power are your norm.
Just a great book. Great story, great characters. Wasn't quite sure where it was going in the beginning, but man when this story takes off, it all comes together! Wasn't sure if the epilogue was going to suggest a sequel....but, I assume not now that I've finished. Even though readers would love more time with these characters.
Thanks Ethan! Well done.
Told in Ethan Day style with a ton of flashbacks, but without the comedy stylings. Paranormal? Historical? All of the above?
Not your typical M/M love story. Unless time travel, evil, and objects with power are your norm.
Just a great book. Great story, great characters. Wasn't quite sure where it was going in the beginning, but man when this story takes off, it all comes together! Wasn't sure if the epilogue was going to suggest a sequel....but, I assume not now that I've finished. Even though readers would love more time with these characters.
Thanks Ethan! Well done.
April 29, 2012
This was great! This isn't as "light" as some of Ethan Day's other stories (the "Sno Ho" series still cracks me up!) but extremely well written. The MC's are engaging as are the secondary ones - Ethan, can Dave get his own story???!!!! :) I will undoubtedly read it again just for enjoyment purposes as well as to pick up what I previously missed.
There are a few - very few! - editing errors (affect vs. effect and your rather than you're) 4.25 stars
There are a few - very few! - editing errors (affect vs. effect and your rather than you're) 4.25 stars
February 19, 2013
Very different from his other books. There are a lot of characters with a lot of history which have to be introduced in the beginning. It's not the most compelling read at first. I was actually questioning if I should keep going when it hadn't grabbed my attention after the third or fourth chapter. I took a break, read some reviews which said the romance was wonderful, and decided to push on. Those reviews were right. The romance between Marc and Zachary is worth it. The paranormal aspects of the book aren't perfect, but the romance is great.
April 27, 2012
4.5 stars. A magnificent story that captures the imagination with its clever plot and enchanting characters, A Token of Time is a must read for anyone who enjoys a romance with a beguiling paranormal twist. To read this review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy....
May 9, 2012
It's not a book characteristic for Ethan Day but I enjoyed this one very much as well. While the beginning is somewhat confusing after one quarter I did get into the story and was held captive till the last page.
August 21, 2012
I felt some push-pull on this one. On the one hand, time travel = yay!, but on the other hand whiny angst = boo! :-)
Please see the rest of this review on Booklikes:
http://charming2020.booklikes.com/pos...
December 23, 2012
Definitely not Ethan Day's normal style, being darker, and perhaps slower moving than much of his other work. Mix in time travel and psychic abilities, and you have a very different novel to Day's more humorous tales.
January 1, 2015
Four & one Half stars - A unique, well told story. Loved the characters. However, the ending was too rushed and too simplistic.
August 21, 2012
3.5 stars
July 31, 2013
3.5 stars
May 15, 2012
FINISHED!! And really really happy!
Review coming soon :)
Review coming soon :)
May 2, 2012
You can see my review for this book at:
http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=4165
http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=4165
April 21, 2012
Great story.... Loved it all. Entertaining from beginning to end with great characters. There is even room for a series. I think the other couples deserve their own book.:)
April 22, 2012
Another very good book by Ethan Day. It was different from his other books, but I really loved it.
It was darker, had timetravel but all end well. I would love to see Dave find his HEA...
It was darker, had timetravel but all end well. I would love to see Dave find his HEA...
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