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Trick of Time
A lover from another time
When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it's all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…
What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.
But Ted doesn't understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it's too late…
27,000 words(less)
When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it's all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…
What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.
But Ted doesn't understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time—and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it's too late…
27,000 words(less)
80 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2013
10 people are currently reading
710 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Merrow
145 books1,327 followersJL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novella Muscling Through was a 2013 EPIC Award finalist, and her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy. Her novel Relief Valve is a finalist in the 2015 EPIC Awards.
JL Merrow is a member of the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 30, 2023
Look, I KNOW that maybe this isn’t a 5 stars read but what the hell, I LOVED IT!! Time travel to Victorian London, a Victorian rent boy (or Mary-Ann as they called themselves), a modern day sad widower with a mild disability and sweetness galore. It wouldn’t do as a normal length book because if you stop to think about it there are a lot of underdeveloped and “underexplained” matters but for a short book it was perfect. I loved everything about it, I liked the description of the setting , of Victorian London , I love the writing and most of all I absolutely LOVED JEM . Such a sweet character and such a fantastic and romantic short read. I totally recommend it.
January 22, 2013
This is a little gem... an excellent read, perfect to snuggle up with and lose your self in J L Merrow's Victorian London, just beautiful!...
This Novella is told from Teds point of view, which is so poignantly delivered by J L Merrow through her impressive writing skills and command of the English language she some how manages to put us in the mind set of this character giving us a perspective of what makes him tick making him so believable you are totally engrossed and drawn in by the sublime prose. She give’s us an insight into what this damaged man is truly like under the surface, his emotions and mostly how incredibly sad and lonely he is after the death of his Husband and parents to a car crash. Ted has isolated himself from the world since the accident and is a lost soul preferring to live in the past surrounded by the memories of his departed lover, with all confidence gone due to the injuries he sustained and the subsequent breakdown. Ted slurs his speech has fits and headaches, something that becomes worse under pressure and with his mind shattered it makes him terribly subconscious, yet he holds down a job, menial to his previous employment but he is grateful to his friend who has taken a chance on him.
When Ted steps out of the Criterion Theatre for a quick ciggie, he marvels at the sight before him! Piccadilly Circus had transformed into what now looks like the pages of a Dickens Novel… was it a haunting? Nah… Common sense prevails and with reality firmly in check he convinces himself that what he is actually seeing is an elaborate and extremely authentic set for a Victorian Drama! Funny though… there were no cameras or crew!?!
Soaking up the atmosphere and mentally trying to digest what is before him, he see’s a man, a vision of beauty and he is struck by the visual aspect of him, even in the dimness of the gas lamp he is leaning against he was gorgeous and by the looks of it a Rent boy and to Teds surprise a great actor too, for when he spoke to him he remained in character, right down to the street slang cockney accent… he was impressed!
Thinking about what he had seen and concerned over his own sanity plus his need for a nicotine fix, he again steps out… and yes, the rent boy was still there! was he dreaming? hallucinating? or just delusional?!?
In the cold light of day he blames his scrambled brain for the surreal experience… putting it down to nothing more than a dream. But Ted is still discussed with himself for being attracted to the rent boy, feeling like he was cheating on the memory of his beloved Alistair and with a whore too… it just didn’t bear thinking about!
Jem, our rent boy with the cockney accent is just adorable, he is genuinely kind and honest and considering his profession it was a joy to see, and even though what Ted was telling him about time travel was beyond the realms of reality, he never once condescends him… but listens, asks questions and is totally accepting of Ted, not mocking or deriding him as a fool despite his quirks which were the lasting effects from the accident.
Ted was now at a loss to know what was real any more, the compos mentis part of him could see how insane it was but the lost and lonely man that he now was, clutched onto the hope that it was real, because since the accident this was the most sane, lucid and rational he had felt. Jem made him feel alive again and living in a parallel dimension was not something he would let get in the way of his return to humanity!
What hits you first in this Novella is the detailed and vivid description of Victorian London, the writing is exquisite, taking us back to a time unfamiliar, yet you can see it with your minds eye in perfect detail, with the sights, sounds and smells assailing our senses as though we were there with them. What a joy and delight it was to be transported with Ted to Victorian London and what transpires between these two characters is true love and affection founded on very shaky ground with two flawed characters that are desperate for something more than what they have, and when they get together, Oh Boy... is it HOT!
Ms Merrow has a great talent of defining her characters giving them a real personally, one we can empathise with as they become part of us... with all the concerns, hopes and dreams you would feel and want to share with a very dear friend. I loved this novella, it is short and doesn't really give us an in-depth background to the characters and yes there is “insta love” here but they live in different dimensions unsure as to whether they will see each other again, so for me it worked. The other concern some may have is that this is a historical novella, however as it is flipped between the two time periods there is an element of history but it is not all encompassing. It is however very British and some may struggle with our sense of humour and colloquialisms!
This book is released on 28th of Jan, if you love J.L Merrow then this is a definite must read!!!
This Book was provided by Carina Press though NetGalley
For more reviews, please visit...Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
This Novella is told from Teds point of view, which is so poignantly delivered by J L Merrow through her impressive writing skills and command of the English language she some how manages to put us in the mind set of this character giving us a perspective of what makes him tick making him so believable you are totally engrossed and drawn in by the sublime prose. She give’s us an insight into what this damaged man is truly like under the surface, his emotions and mostly how incredibly sad and lonely he is after the death of his Husband and parents to a car crash. Ted has isolated himself from the world since the accident and is a lost soul preferring to live in the past surrounded by the memories of his departed lover, with all confidence gone due to the injuries he sustained and the subsequent breakdown. Ted slurs his speech has fits and headaches, something that becomes worse under pressure and with his mind shattered it makes him terribly subconscious, yet he holds down a job, menial to his previous employment but he is grateful to his friend who has taken a chance on him.
When Ted steps out of the Criterion Theatre for a quick ciggie, he marvels at the sight before him! Piccadilly Circus had transformed into what now looks like the pages of a Dickens Novel… was it a haunting? Nah… Common sense prevails and with reality firmly in check he convinces himself that what he is actually seeing is an elaborate and extremely authentic set for a Victorian Drama! Funny though… there were no cameras or crew!?!
Soaking up the atmosphere and mentally trying to digest what is before him, he see’s a man, a vision of beauty and he is struck by the visual aspect of him, even in the dimness of the gas lamp he is leaning against he was gorgeous and by the looks of it a Rent boy and to Teds surprise a great actor too, for when he spoke to him he remained in character, right down to the street slang cockney accent… he was impressed!
Thinking about what he had seen and concerned over his own sanity plus his need for a nicotine fix, he again steps out… and yes, the rent boy was still there! was he dreaming? hallucinating? or just delusional?!?
In the cold light of day he blames his scrambled brain for the surreal experience… putting it down to nothing more than a dream. But Ted is still discussed with himself for being attracted to the rent boy, feeling like he was cheating on the memory of his beloved Alistair and with a whore too… it just didn’t bear thinking about!
Jem, our rent boy with the cockney accent is just adorable, he is genuinely kind and honest and considering his profession it was a joy to see, and even though what Ted was telling him about time travel was beyond the realms of reality, he never once condescends him… but listens, asks questions and is totally accepting of Ted, not mocking or deriding him as a fool despite his quirks which were the lasting effects from the accident.
Ted was now at a loss to know what was real any more, the compos mentis part of him could see how insane it was but the lost and lonely man that he now was, clutched onto the hope that it was real, because since the accident this was the most sane, lucid and rational he had felt. Jem made him feel alive again and living in a parallel dimension was not something he would let get in the way of his return to humanity!
What hits you first in this Novella is the detailed and vivid description of Victorian London, the writing is exquisite, taking us back to a time unfamiliar, yet you can see it with your minds eye in perfect detail, with the sights, sounds and smells assailing our senses as though we were there with them. What a joy and delight it was to be transported with Ted to Victorian London and what transpires between these two characters is true love and affection founded on very shaky ground with two flawed characters that are desperate for something more than what they have, and when they get together, Oh Boy... is it HOT!
Ms Merrow has a great talent of defining her characters giving them a real personally, one we can empathise with as they become part of us... with all the concerns, hopes and dreams you would feel and want to share with a very dear friend. I loved this novella, it is short and doesn't really give us an in-depth background to the characters and yes there is “insta love” here but they live in different dimensions unsure as to whether they will see each other again, so for me it worked. The other concern some may have is that this is a historical novella, however as it is flipped between the two time periods there is an element of history but it is not all encompassing. It is however very British and some may struggle with our sense of humour and colloquialisms!
This book is released on 28th of Jan, if you love J.L Merrow then this is a definite must read!!!
This Book was provided by Carina Press though NetGalley
For more reviews, please visit...Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
July 4, 2014
Question: you step out of your house one day to go to work and..WHAM..suddenly find yourself in 19th century Victorian London. Astonished, you suck the grime, dirt and decay into your lungs and then...you lock eyes with a pretty boy who casually leans against a lamppost. He's a prostitute and it shows.
Now would you or wouldn’t you get your freak on with him?
I have to say, knowledge can be a bitch. I confess to being somewhat of a history nut and thus can’t help associating Victorian rent boys with filth, lice, fleas, Syphilis and Gonorrhea. Victorian fashion may ignite romantic fantasies, in reality a large number of the London population bit the dust before even turning 30. Among other reasons due to outbreaks of cholera, smallpox, typhoid and scarlet fever. What’s amusing, is that physicians back then apparently considered STD ridden prostitutes a blessing. They believed that Syphilis was “inflicted by the Almighty to act as a restraint upon the indulgence of evil passions”.
So yes, I personally find it a little difficult to indulge in the idea of smutting it up with a Victorian prostitute.
Luckily, Ted Ennis has no such objections! More than a year ago, his husband and parents got killed in a car crash that left him with a permanent head injury and slurred speech. A family friend landed him a job as a jack of all trades at a London theater. Ted's still in the process of trying to bounce back when he -- much as in the case I described above -- steps out of the theater on his cigarette break and finds himself in....Victorian London. In case you were wondering...... YES, he does get his freak on in what you can only call a school example of instant love. A rent boy leads him through a labyrinth of dirty, dark alleys, gets on his knees and....Ted’s been done for (if he wasn’t already). When he heads back to the theater and to our modern world, he realizes that his life cannot ever be the same again.
He has to see his historical lover again.
This being a novella, I decided to keep my review reasonably short (my kinda short anyway :p). A Trick of Time is a sweet, gentle romance with a hint of suspense and the time travel element to spice things up. Merrow has a pleasant writing style and paces her story well. I found myself rooting for Ted and his prostitute and had no troubling whatsoever finishing this book in a few hours.
On the other hand, this one was nowhere near as clever or quirky as Merrow's other book; Muscling Through, which really put her on the map for me. If you haven’t read that one already, please make sure to check it out! Trick of Time was very much a middle of the road romance, and a somewhat shallow one at that. So if you enjoy picking your books apart and analyzing the author’s decisions, this one will leave you unsatisfied. Quite a few questions remain unanswered. The odd time travel thing and how it all played out will raise an eyebrow or two. Same with how the rent boy's harsh life apparently doesn’t stop him from hopping onto the instant love train and taking all Ted’s crazy ass stories and his obvious handicap for granted. Then there's the fact that this story is too short to allow Victorian London to come alive. Something that applies to the MC's as well.
And yet, if you’re ready to leave your criticism at the door there’s a lot to enjoy about this cute piece of historical fiction with time-crossed lovers. I would therefore definitely recommend it as an uncomplicated feel good read in between your ‘larger meals’.
For daily giveaways, interviews and reviews, please check out:
Now would you or wouldn’t you get your freak on with him?
I have to say, knowledge can be a bitch. I confess to being somewhat of a history nut and thus can’t help associating Victorian rent boys with filth, lice, fleas, Syphilis and Gonorrhea. Victorian fashion may ignite romantic fantasies, in reality a large number of the London population bit the dust before even turning 30. Among other reasons due to outbreaks of cholera, smallpox, typhoid and scarlet fever. What’s amusing, is that physicians back then apparently considered STD ridden prostitutes a blessing. They believed that Syphilis was “inflicted by the Almighty to act as a restraint upon the indulgence of evil passions”.
So yes, I personally find it a little difficult to indulge in the idea of smutting it up with a Victorian prostitute.
Luckily, Ted Ennis has no such objections! More than a year ago, his husband and parents got killed in a car crash that left him with a permanent head injury and slurred speech. A family friend landed him a job as a jack of all trades at a London theater. Ted's still in the process of trying to bounce back when he -- much as in the case I described above -- steps out of the theater on his cigarette break and finds himself in....Victorian London. In case you were wondering...... YES, he does get his freak on in what you can only call a school example of instant love. A rent boy leads him through a labyrinth of dirty, dark alleys, gets on his knees and....Ted’s been done for (if he wasn’t already). When he heads back to the theater and to our modern world, he realizes that his life cannot ever be the same again.
He has to see his historical lover again.
This being a novella, I decided to keep my review reasonably short (my kinda short anyway :p). A Trick of Time is a sweet, gentle romance with a hint of suspense and the time travel element to spice things up. Merrow has a pleasant writing style and paces her story well. I found myself rooting for Ted and his prostitute and had no troubling whatsoever finishing this book in a few hours.
On the other hand, this one was nowhere near as clever or quirky as Merrow's other book; Muscling Through, which really put her on the map for me. If you haven’t read that one already, please make sure to check it out! Trick of Time was very much a middle of the road romance, and a somewhat shallow one at that. So if you enjoy picking your books apart and analyzing the author’s decisions, this one will leave you unsatisfied. Quite a few questions remain unanswered. The odd time travel thing and how it all played out will raise an eyebrow or two. Same with how the rent boy's harsh life apparently doesn’t stop him from hopping onto the instant love train and taking all Ted’s crazy ass stories and his obvious handicap for granted. Then there's the fact that this story is too short to allow Victorian London to come alive. Something that applies to the MC's as well.
And yet, if you’re ready to leave your criticism at the door there’s a lot to enjoy about this cute piece of historical fiction with time-crossed lovers. I would therefore definitely recommend it as an uncomplicated feel good read in between your ‘larger meals’.
For daily giveaways, interviews and reviews, please check out:
August 22, 2016
*full review now posted*
This is a lovely story about time travel, and what a person is ready to do for the one he loves :)
The story
Ted Ennis works in the Criterion Theatre, and one day, stepping out to take a cigarette break, he walks out and finds himself in the past.
At first he thinks it's a movie set, but soon realises he's in Victorian England (or possibly having hallucinations LOL)
He sees a beautiful young man standing on a corner, approaches him and finds out that he's a rent boy.
The next day Ted goes to another cigarette break, and again, he goes back in time.
Jem (the rent boy) leads him to an alley and gives him a blow job, which makes Ted feel guilty because he didn't have any money with him.
After several more trips to the past, Ted tries to find out how the time travel works, because he knows something terrible will happen...
I liked the idea of it, traveling back in time via the Criterion Theater, and Ted trying to figure out what to do to get to the exact time-frame he needed.
BUT, in my opinion, this would've been EXCELLENT, if only it was longer :( As it was, the romance between Jem and Ted was REALLY rushed, they've seen each other only a couple of times and that's it...
I'd love to know more about the time travel thing, and basically, I just wanted MORE :D
The writing is great, really, really well done, and no complaints about that part :D
The prostitute thing just seemed a bit off in this one too (to me) dunno why.
Jem
We don't know much (anything) about him, except that he's a rent boy and very poor. He likes Ted and doesn't want to take money from him.
I felt really bad for him, especially near the end :(
Ted
He's a widower and hasn't been in a relationship since his husband died.
Ted is very attracted to Jem, and can't stop visiting the past, just so he could have some more stolen moments with him.
I love the way he fought to get back, and what he did for Jem.
One thing that didn't sit right with me was the fact that Jem was a prostitute (well not that fact) but Ted getting a blow job from the guy right at the beginning. He did pay him for it later and all, but still. I guess it's just my thing and I was uncomfortable with the way their relationship started :( I just wish there wasn't any sex for money in this one :(
So, I liked it, but some parts didn't go with me.
It was an enjoyable enough story, with a new twist that I REALLY liked, so I'm giving it three stars :)
*ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This is a lovely story about time travel, and what a person is ready to do for the one he loves :)
The story
Ted Ennis works in the Criterion Theatre, and one day, stepping out to take a cigarette break, he walks out and finds himself in the past.
At first he thinks it's a movie set, but soon realises he's in Victorian England (or possibly having hallucinations LOL)
He sees a beautiful young man standing on a corner, approaches him and finds out that he's a rent boy.
The next day Ted goes to another cigarette break, and again, he goes back in time.
Jem (the rent boy) leads him to an alley and gives him a blow job, which makes Ted feel guilty because he didn't have any money with him.
After several more trips to the past, Ted tries to find out how the time travel works, because he knows something terrible will happen...
I liked the idea of it, traveling back in time via the Criterion Theater, and Ted trying to figure out what to do to get to the exact time-frame he needed.
BUT, in my opinion, this would've been EXCELLENT, if only it was longer :( As it was, the romance between Jem and Ted was REALLY rushed, they've seen each other only a couple of times and that's it...
I'd love to know more about the time travel thing, and basically, I just wanted MORE :D
The writing is great, really, really well done, and no complaints about that part :D
The prostitute thing just seemed a bit off in this one too (to me) dunno why.
Jem
We don't know much (anything) about him, except that he's a rent boy and very poor. He likes Ted and doesn't want to take money from him.
I felt really bad for him, especially near the end :(
Ted
He's a widower and hasn't been in a relationship since his husband died.
Ted is very attracted to Jem, and can't stop visiting the past, just so he could have some more stolen moments with him.
I love the way he fought to get back, and what he did for Jem.
One thing that didn't sit right with me was the fact that Jem was a prostitute (well not that fact) but Ted getting a blow job from the guy right at the beginning. He did pay him for it later and all, but still. I guess it's just my thing and I was uncomfortable with the way their relationship started :( I just wish there wasn't any sex for money in this one :(
So, I liked it, but some parts didn't go with me.
It was an enjoyable enough story, with a new twist that I REALLY liked, so I'm giving it three stars :)
*ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
December 21, 2012
When I first started this novella I wasn't sure I would like it. The time travel elements were clumsily introduced and there wasn't enough detail for my taste. I had just finished "Downtime", which is a beautifully written MM time-travel romance, and I think that colored my impression of this book.
However, as the book progressed, I found myself liking the story more and more. The romantic elements really perked up the story and added a depth that the plot was sorely missing. I became attached to the characters and was rooting for their "happily ever after". Though it could have used 100 pages of further plot development, "Trick of Time" ended up being a sweet, mildly spicy romance that won me over after all.
**Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
However, as the book progressed, I found myself liking the story more and more. The romantic elements really perked up the story and added a depth that the plot was sorely missing. I became attached to the characters and was rooting for their "happily ever after". Though it could have used 100 pages of further plot development, "Trick of Time" ended up being a sweet, mildly spicy romance that won me over after all.
**Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 7, 2013
Doctor Who is to blame! The man is the source of so many of my obsessions, but time travel and scarves are two biggies. :D Time travel! Nothing makes my geeky sci-fi heart happier than traveling through history.
Ms. Merrow’s Trick of Time wastes no time jumping into the action. After a life changing loss and punch to the heart and soul, Ted Ennis is trying to start a new life and career in theatre management in London. Work keeps him busy--too busy or tired to think of his pain. So perhaps fate steps in with a push & pull to the clock. Craving a cigarette one night at work, Ted puts his shoulder into the thick door, steps out, and *WHAM*…we are transported from modern times to the streets of long ago London. I could feel the pop of the door as it flew open, maybe slamming against the wall with surprise and a bang, the gush of air and light that blinds you just for a moment as you step over the threshold into another time. Not unlike leaving the darkness of a movie theatre into the light of day. From one world to the next. Ms. Merrow brings that experience—that stunned, blinking, trying to take it all in excitement, surprise, and spark to life on the page. With ease, humor, and such heartbreaking tenderness, Ms. Merrow takes readers by the hand and leads us into Victorian London’s Piccadilly Circus. The sounds and smells of carriages, smoke, dirt and food layer the pages with such color and energy. My heart and head loved it all! And I haven’t even mentioned Jem yet. :D
”I don’t kiss anyone. Only you.”
Jem, Jem, Jem! A dark haired, full lipped beauty of a rent boy with cheek bones to die for and an open, true heart that will surprise and sweep you off your feet. Perhaps Jem is just what Ted needs to help heal his shattered heart. But wait… is Ted going crazy? Is Jem real or only in his mind? Hold on for a sweet ride filled with adventure, suspense, smiles, sexy chemistry, and huge heart.
My only hiccup and hesitation with this story was how fast Ted’s emotions shifted and moved. Does Ted risk and rush into love with Jem? Maybe. I found myself wanting to protect Ted—silently *chanting* “please don’t hurt him, please don’t hurt him”. But hell, I can’t really blame him—Jem had me swooning and falling with his very first “Oi” from under the lamplight!
Let go and follow your heart through time and place with Ted, Jem, and Ms. Merrow. A quick story filled to the brim with love that had me dreaming, asking, and wondering….How far would you go for love?
February 24, 2013
4.5 stars. This is a short, sweet, beautifully-presented little historical/time travel story. The time travel here is never explained. It's a device that creates the plot, a door opening between now and then with a few rules, and no real explanations.
But for the purposes of the story, if you just accept that, then this is a warm journey from grief to healing for Ted, as he encounters a Victorian era male prostitute who is willing to hold him, not judge him, and whose buoyant spirit and kind nature haven't yet been lost to his profession. The setting is vivid, the sensory details feel authentic. Although this is love-at-first-sight, it didn't feel like insta-love to me, due to the skill of the author. It felt like watching Ted shaken out of his grief, and grabbing the first person who was there and kind and different. And Jem, the rent boy, for the first time treated as an equal by one of his clients, and allowed to give more than sex. And then each coming to value the other for themselves.
If you can go with the flow on this one, it's a charming story about two interesting men. Although I was sorry to see it end, the arc is complete, and the length feels perfect for the story it presents. Someday, I'd love to see the whole thing again, with an extension of the period between last chapter and epilogue, from Jem's POV. I fell for him, and we only see him from the outside here. But if the author never gives me that, I'm still warmed by what she did give me in this story.
But for the purposes of the story, if you just accept that, then this is a warm journey from grief to healing for Ted, as he encounters a Victorian era male prostitute who is willing to hold him, not judge him, and whose buoyant spirit and kind nature haven't yet been lost to his profession. The setting is vivid, the sensory details feel authentic. Although this is love-at-first-sight, it didn't feel like insta-love to me, due to the skill of the author. It felt like watching Ted shaken out of his grief, and grabbing the first person who was there and kind and different. And Jem, the rent boy, for the first time treated as an equal by one of his clients, and allowed to give more than sex. And then each coming to value the other for themselves.
If you can go with the flow on this one, it's a charming story about two interesting men. Although I was sorry to see it end, the arc is complete, and the length feels perfect for the story it presents. Someday, I'd love to see the whole thing again, with an extension of the period between last chapter and epilogue, from Jem's POV. I fell for him, and we only see him from the outside here. But if the author never gives me that, I'm still warmed by what she did give me in this story.
Read
December 14, 2012This book started for me with the Criterion Theatre on Piccadilly Circus. I went there years ago to see the Reduced Shakespeare Company - and while enjoying the show, I couldn't help falling in love with the theatre as well, with its plush pink seats, Art Deco tiles and intimate atmosphere, as if the play were being performed in your own living room.
I popped back in while writing the book to refresh my memory of the place, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming, letting me wander around while rehearsals were going on.
I popped back in while writing the book to refresh my memory of the place, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming, letting me wander around while rehearsals were going on.
May 11, 2013
*wiggles*
*squishes book*
Looooooooved it!
JL Merrow delivers. Again.
Unique time travel concept that could have been total shit in the wrong hands. But no. Not in JL Merrow's awesomely wonderful ones.
Ted, victim of a tragic accident that left him alone in the world (and related to which he still suffers some physical symptoms), travels through time back to Victorian England and meets Jem, a rent boy with a heart of gold. They're pretty much perfect for each other, but the obvious question of how they'll have a relationship together - and how reliable Ted's little time traveling stunt will be - must be answered before their HEA.
I pretty much ADORED this story. I got it from the BPL, but will be buying myself a copy to own.
*squishes book once more*
Seriously, they are wonderful characters and so perfect for each other. Ted and Jem's story is unique and super interesting, and I was rooting for them 100% all the way. Together, they help heal each other and find their places in the world.
Whose world do they find a place in?
Well, you'll have to read it to find out. ;)
*squishes book*
Looooooooved it!
JL Merrow delivers. Again.
Unique time travel concept that could have been total shit in the wrong hands. But no. Not in JL Merrow's awesomely wonderful ones.
Ted, victim of a tragic accident that left him alone in the world (and related to which he still suffers some physical symptoms), travels through time back to Victorian England and meets Jem, a rent boy with a heart of gold. They're pretty much perfect for each other, but the obvious question of how they'll have a relationship together - and how reliable Ted's little time traveling stunt will be - must be answered before their HEA.
I pretty much ADORED this story. I got it from the BPL, but will be buying myself a copy to own.
*squishes book once more*
Seriously, they are wonderful characters and so perfect for each other. Ted and Jem's story is unique and super interesting, and I was rooting for them 100% all the way. Together, they help heal each other and find their places in the world.
Whose world do they find a place in?
Well, you'll have to read it to find out. ;)
February 8, 2013
An enjoyable read with a nicely done bit of mystery.
I can’t say I felt much connection between the two male leads. While we learn a bit about Ted, Jem remains little more than a name. I never felt like I knew him.
I did enjoy the whole mystery of the time portal and was rushing to read how things would resolve themselves towards the end. But at the same time I never felt pulled into the past the way I have in other historical books.
I enjoyed this more for the mystery than for the romance. Maybe a longer length with more time spent on the MC would help me with the romance side lol.
I did wondered after reading the blurb for this one if I would be constantly thinking of Gary Sparrow. I’m happy to say that while I occasionally thought of the show, Gary stayed out of my thoughts lol.
I can’t say I felt much connection between the two male leads. While we learn a bit about Ted, Jem remains little more than a name. I never felt like I knew him.
I did enjoy the whole mystery of the time portal and was rushing to read how things would resolve themselves towards the end. But at the same time I never felt pulled into the past the way I have in other historical books.
I enjoyed this more for the mystery than for the romance. Maybe a longer length with more time spent on the MC would help me with the romance side lol.
I did wondered after reading the blurb for this one if I would be constantly thinking of Gary Sparrow. I’m happy to say that while I occasionally thought of the show, Gary stayed out of my thoughts lol.
February 23, 2021
***3.5 - 4 Stars***
February 1, 2013
A lovely, sweet, heartfelt short with a HEA, even if a little melancholic due to the loss of Ted's family and partner in a car accident. However, he finds love once more and the story shows us that even after a tragedy life goes on and it's possible to find love again.
The time travel aspect was a wonderful idea and well thought out making it totally believable. Merrow brings victorian London to life with all its atmosphere. Although I found Ted's reaction to his first time travel experience a little too cool, I would have been totally freaked out.
My favourite quote from this book which sums up the whole ideaof the story is the line from Jem, "Got to take your chances when they come, haven’t you?" never a truer word spoke. I loved Jem with his uncomplicated and totally accepting view of life.
Loved this story and once again Merrow never fails to disappointment me.
The time travel aspect was a wonderful idea and well thought out making it totally believable. Merrow brings victorian London to life with all its atmosphere. Although I found Ted's reaction to his first time travel experience a little too cool, I would have been totally freaked out.
My favourite quote from this book which sums up the whole ideaof the story is the line from Jem, "Got to take your chances when they come, haven’t you?" never a truer word spoke. I loved Jem with his uncomplicated and totally accepting view of life.
Loved this story and once again Merrow never fails to disappointment me.
January 31, 2013
3.5 stars. Sweet story about Ted who works at the Criterion Theater and travels back in time while on break. He meets and falls in love with Jem. Unfortunately, I read Downtime by Tamara Allen last month so I couldn't stop myself from comparing the two. I wish it were a bit longer to develop the story.
January 27, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
I always read the books that JL Merrow writes, so even though this is a time travel romance (which I don't usually like), I decided to go ahead and read it. And I'm glad I did -- none of the things that usually bother me about time travel romances (like the lack of details about the time travel itself) were present here. And most of all, this story had the charm that I've come to expect from this author, making it a pretty good book.
Ted Ennis works at the Cri, as an all around helper to put on the plays and events at the theater. His boss got him the job, his former partner's best friend, now looking out for Ted, and now a friend to Ted himself. And Ted needs looking after -- he's been pretty lost in the past year and a half since a car accident not only damaged his body and gave him severe head injuries, but made him a widower and an orphan on the same day. So, Ted isn't sure what to believe when he leaves during a performance for a smoke break and finds that himself standing in a Victorian era London. At first he thinks that he's walked onto a Dickensian movie set, maybe some new BBC historical drama. But when he meets Jem, a beautiful corner rent boy who doesn't seem to understand why Ted is asking him about his role and the set, he starts to wonder if it's his mind acting up again. He's had lots of problems before actually… hallucinations and things like that, but this seems completely different. And when he returns to the theater only to look out once again upon a completely modern Piccadilly Circus, he chalks it up to his damaged brain.
Ted isn't sure what to think when the same thing happens during a performance the next night. Once again he sees Jem, leaning against the lamppost, looking sexy and appealing. But a quick one off isn't fair to the memory of Ted's dead partner, so Ted does everything he can to convince Jem to get to know him, go out for dinner, take a walk. Over a series of nights and stolen time during performances, Ted and Jem meet and get to know each other, until Ted is forced to learn just how he's traveling through time.
There are two things that I really loved about this story, no actually, three things. First, it's pretty short, settling in at 27,000 words. And the length is perfect… just perfect. I sometimes worry with a book that just a little longer than a short story because it gives license to write a bigger story but with still not much more room to showcase it. But the pacing here is done just right, and I finished the story feeling like it was perfectly timed. They get to know each other maybe a little fast, but other than that, everything fit just right and felt like it was where it should be.
One thing that I really loved were Ted and Jem. They're both complex characters, though we only really learn about them from their own recollections about their lives. In the case of Jem, since we don't get to see his POV, we learn quite a bit less, but I never felt as if I didn't get to know him well. Ted's POV is most often centered on himself. He's dealing with a lot, and not only his past relationship and what he'd think of Jem, but the time travel issue itself and what exactly he's doing in 1880s London. So a lot of what we learn about Jem is done through casual observation in his words, his mannerisms and his behavior. He accepts Ted's story about where he's really from with grace, but very subtle cues let us in on how he really feels. He is, in a way, reserved, or he is from Ted's POV. So much of the relationship they build is somewhat of a farce, and they don't really get to know each other until all the cards are on the table near to the end of the story. Still, they have a strong connection, one that I could see the chemistry of from the first scene together.
And last, the crux of the story relies on the time travel, not only as a device to get the characters together but also to manipulate them into choices about their future and the climax of the novella. I mentioned before that I don't usually like to read time travel romances, partly because it's just not a theme that attracts me. The main reason, however, is because I find it infuriating when the characters take their situation for granted, or without looking into why they've traveled time. Unless there are already answers, in a sci-fi futuristic book or something, which usually isn't the case actually, I expect the characters to be completely dumbfounded and want to find the answers. And when that doesn't happen, when the author glosses over the time travel and only uses it as a device to put two characters from different times together, it just really bugs me. So I loved that Merrow made the time travel central to the story. Ted has to figure out why and how it is happening in order to manipulate it to get their HEA, and that is what made the story most enjoyable for me.
Of course, part of the fun of a time travel story is having fun with the displaced character. I find it more fun to see a historical character in a modern time, personally, but the other way around can be fun too. There's a great little bit in the middle of this story where Ted and Jem travel around Victorian London so Ted can see the things that he recognizes from modern times and how they're different. This gave the story some excitement for me because it's fun. And like I always expect from this author, the story was saturated in sensory detail -- the unfortunate odors of London in the 1880s, the sounds in the market, and the story has a wealth of historical detail that firmly tethers this story in time.
Definitely Recommended.
I always read the books that JL Merrow writes, so even though this is a time travel romance (which I don't usually like), I decided to go ahead and read it. And I'm glad I did -- none of the things that usually bother me about time travel romances (like the lack of details about the time travel itself) were present here. And most of all, this story had the charm that I've come to expect from this author, making it a pretty good book.
Ted Ennis works at the Cri, as an all around helper to put on the plays and events at the theater. His boss got him the job, his former partner's best friend, now looking out for Ted, and now a friend to Ted himself. And Ted needs looking after -- he's been pretty lost in the past year and a half since a car accident not only damaged his body and gave him severe head injuries, but made him a widower and an orphan on the same day. So, Ted isn't sure what to believe when he leaves during a performance for a smoke break and finds that himself standing in a Victorian era London. At first he thinks that he's walked onto a Dickensian movie set, maybe some new BBC historical drama. But when he meets Jem, a beautiful corner rent boy who doesn't seem to understand why Ted is asking him about his role and the set, he starts to wonder if it's his mind acting up again. He's had lots of problems before actually… hallucinations and things like that, but this seems completely different. And when he returns to the theater only to look out once again upon a completely modern Piccadilly Circus, he chalks it up to his damaged brain.
Ted isn't sure what to think when the same thing happens during a performance the next night. Once again he sees Jem, leaning against the lamppost, looking sexy and appealing. But a quick one off isn't fair to the memory of Ted's dead partner, so Ted does everything he can to convince Jem to get to know him, go out for dinner, take a walk. Over a series of nights and stolen time during performances, Ted and Jem meet and get to know each other, until Ted is forced to learn just how he's traveling through time.
There are two things that I really loved about this story, no actually, three things. First, it's pretty short, settling in at 27,000 words. And the length is perfect… just perfect. I sometimes worry with a book that just a little longer than a short story because it gives license to write a bigger story but with still not much more room to showcase it. But the pacing here is done just right, and I finished the story feeling like it was perfectly timed. They get to know each other maybe a little fast, but other than that, everything fit just right and felt like it was where it should be.
One thing that I really loved were Ted and Jem. They're both complex characters, though we only really learn about them from their own recollections about their lives. In the case of Jem, since we don't get to see his POV, we learn quite a bit less, but I never felt as if I didn't get to know him well. Ted's POV is most often centered on himself. He's dealing with a lot, and not only his past relationship and what he'd think of Jem, but the time travel issue itself and what exactly he's doing in 1880s London. So a lot of what we learn about Jem is done through casual observation in his words, his mannerisms and his behavior. He accepts Ted's story about where he's really from with grace, but very subtle cues let us in on how he really feels. He is, in a way, reserved, or he is from Ted's POV. So much of the relationship they build is somewhat of a farce, and they don't really get to know each other until all the cards are on the table near to the end of the story. Still, they have a strong connection, one that I could see the chemistry of from the first scene together.
And last, the crux of the story relies on the time travel, not only as a device to get the characters together but also to manipulate them into choices about their future and the climax of the novella. I mentioned before that I don't usually like to read time travel romances, partly because it's just not a theme that attracts me. The main reason, however, is because I find it infuriating when the characters take their situation for granted, or without looking into why they've traveled time. Unless there are already answers, in a sci-fi futuristic book or something, which usually isn't the case actually, I expect the characters to be completely dumbfounded and want to find the answers. And when that doesn't happen, when the author glosses over the time travel and only uses it as a device to put two characters from different times together, it just really bugs me. So I loved that Merrow made the time travel central to the story. Ted has to figure out why and how it is happening in order to manipulate it to get their HEA, and that is what made the story most enjoyable for me.
Of course, part of the fun of a time travel story is having fun with the displaced character. I find it more fun to see a historical character in a modern time, personally, but the other way around can be fun too. There's a great little bit in the middle of this story where Ted and Jem travel around Victorian London so Ted can see the things that he recognizes from modern times and how they're different. This gave the story some excitement for me because it's fun. And like I always expect from this author, the story was saturated in sensory detail -- the unfortunate odors of London in the 1880s, the sounds in the market, and the story has a wealth of historical detail that firmly tethers this story in time.
Definitely Recommended.
September 22, 2023
I'm one of the very few people who didn't like this book but I was very disappointed by it. There were certain things I really liked but overall, the romance was lackluster, I didn't like Ted and the entire story felt rushed and wasn't well put together.
My favorite parts were Jem's strong Cockney accent and the reveal of how/why the time travel worked the way it did. I also did some research afterwards and I love that all the plays referenced were real plays and really did have productions showing during the years referenced. Then there was that epic plot twist in the second-to-last chapter that made my jaw drop! That was an incredible moment because it was so unexpected and it added a sense of urgency to solving the mystery of how the time travel procedure worked.
Unfortunately, I couldn't stand Ted. My main interest in the story was Ted's disabilities and how those would impact the story. He was in a bad car accident that led to the deaths of his parents and his husband and Ted was left with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that includes trouble speaking, mobility issues and other concerns. Unfortunately, these disabilities were mostly only talked about instead of being shown on page. Ted's speech patterns were written completely normally so when it's revealed after a conversation was finished that he was slurring or hard to understand throughout, I was disappointed because I had no idea his speech had been abnormal and nobody else acted like it was either. Overall, I felt letdown by the author's lazy approach towards Ted's disabilities and how they were barely part of the story.
The other problem was Ted's insta-feelings. The story starts with . The whole thing was rushed and it felt like the author was forcing Ted to move through certain plot beats for the sake of the story.
Then there was Ted's rampant stupidity. After realizing he'd time travelled back to Victorian times, what's the first thing he does? He follows a stranger down an alleyway for sex. Ted has a TBI that gives him mobility issues and he's not a big, tough guy to begin with. He's in an unknown area, Jem is much younger than him and Ted has no idea what's happening. Who the hell would be thinking about sex at a time like that?? Who the hell would be easily distracted by the idea of having sex instead of freaking out about having time travelled and being in danger??
But Ted's stupidity doesn't end there. He randomly decides to . Later, Ted is determined to help Jem due to the dangerous lifestyle/time period Jem lives in, but when he thinks about bringing Jem to the future, he decides not to. What's his reasoning? It's very vague but something about Jem being overwhelmed at being in the future. Listen - if you give somebody a choice between continuing to be a prostitute in Victorian London versus a bit of culture shock at time travelling 150 years, there's nobody who would choose the former instead of the latter. But Ted convinces himself that leaving Jem where he is would be the better choice. Oh, until a few chapters later when . Everything about Ted's behavior in the story was a plot convenience, used by the author to lazily steer the story the way they wanted.
Speaking of Jem being fine in the future, I was really annoyed at the author casually ignoring a really cool plot point that should have been relevant: Jem's illiteracy. It's never stated on page but there's very little chance that the guy knew how to read and write because he wouldn't have ever had the opportunity to learn. So when he's in the future and . But nope - like most other things in this story, the author took the lazy approach and Jem has no trouble with reading.
Jem was a much better character but he wasn't immune to being dumb either. He reveals to Ted towards the end that . It was so dumb.
Then there was the ridiculous instalove between the characters. They only had a handful of interactions through the entire story, there was zero chemistry between them and it's so clear that Jem is only interested in Ted because Ted represents safety and a ticket out of the terrible life he's living. I constantly got the feeling that Jem was just grateful for what Ted did and that Ted did it because it was the right thing to do. I had no issues with any of that but it meant the story would have made more sense and been more enjoyable if the romance had been left out. Due to the lack of chemistry and lack of romance development between the MCs, I didn't like them as a couple at all.
Overall, I only recommend this if you're looking for a unique twist to the usual time travel approach but asides from that, this consisted of a lackluster romance, stupid characters and lazy plotting.
My favorite parts were Jem's strong Cockney accent and the reveal of how/why the time travel worked the way it did. I also did some research afterwards and I love that all the plays referenced were real plays and really did have productions showing during the years referenced. Then there was that epic plot twist in the second-to-last chapter that made my jaw drop! That was an incredible moment because it was so unexpected and it added a sense of urgency to solving the mystery of how the time travel procedure worked.
Unfortunately, I couldn't stand Ted. My main interest in the story was Ted's disabilities and how those would impact the story. He was in a bad car accident that led to the deaths of his parents and his husband and Ted was left with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) that includes trouble speaking, mobility issues and other concerns. Unfortunately, these disabilities were mostly only talked about instead of being shown on page. Ted's speech patterns were written completely normally so when it's revealed after a conversation was finished that he was slurring or hard to understand throughout, I was disappointed because I had no idea his speech had been abnormal and nobody else acted like it was either. Overall, I felt letdown by the author's lazy approach towards Ted's disabilities and how they were barely part of the story.
The other problem was Ted's insta-feelings. The story starts with . The whole thing was rushed and it felt like the author was forcing Ted to move through certain plot beats for the sake of the story.
Then there was Ted's rampant stupidity. After realizing he'd time travelled back to Victorian times, what's the first thing he does? He follows a stranger down an alleyway for sex. Ted has a TBI that gives him mobility issues and he's not a big, tough guy to begin with. He's in an unknown area, Jem is much younger than him and Ted has no idea what's happening. Who the hell would be thinking about sex at a time like that?? Who the hell would be easily distracted by the idea of having sex instead of freaking out about having time travelled and being in danger??
But Ted's stupidity doesn't end there. He randomly decides to . Later, Ted is determined to help Jem due to the dangerous lifestyle/time period Jem lives in, but when he thinks about bringing Jem to the future, he decides not to. What's his reasoning? It's very vague but something about Jem being overwhelmed at being in the future. Listen - if you give somebody a choice between continuing to be a prostitute in Victorian London versus a bit of culture shock at time travelling 150 years, there's nobody who would choose the former instead of the latter. But Ted convinces himself that leaving Jem where he is would be the better choice. Oh, until a few chapters later when . Everything about Ted's behavior in the story was a plot convenience, used by the author to lazily steer the story the way they wanted.
Speaking of Jem being fine in the future, I was really annoyed at the author casually ignoring a really cool plot point that should have been relevant: Jem's illiteracy. It's never stated on page but there's very little chance that the guy knew how to read and write because he wouldn't have ever had the opportunity to learn. So when he's in the future and . But nope - like most other things in this story, the author took the lazy approach and Jem has no trouble with reading.
Jem was a much better character but he wasn't immune to being dumb either. He reveals to Ted towards the end that . It was so dumb.
Then there was the ridiculous instalove between the characters. They only had a handful of interactions through the entire story, there was zero chemistry between them and it's so clear that Jem is only interested in Ted because Ted represents safety and a ticket out of the terrible life he's living. I constantly got the feeling that Jem was just grateful for what Ted did and that Ted did it because it was the right thing to do. I had no issues with any of that but it meant the story would have made more sense and been more enjoyable if the romance had been left out. Due to the lack of chemistry and lack of romance development between the MCs, I didn't like them as a couple at all.
Overall, I only recommend this if you're looking for a unique twist to the usual time travel approach but asides from that, this consisted of a lackluster romance, stupid characters and lazy plotting.
February 15, 2014
This was a really appealing time travel romance that had poignant and very tender undertones. As the blurb states, Rob steps put of the Picadilly theatre where he works one night to have a ciggie break and mysteriously finds himself transported back in time to Victorian London. His first thought is that he's stepped onto a film set but stranger forces are at work here.
He sees a beautiful young man leaning against a lamppost and is immediately taken by him. It becomes obvious that this young man, Jem Pocket, is a rent boy. I leave it to you to find out what happens next, but I will tell you that Rob is a very sad man as this story starts and through this strange quirk of fate he begins to heal and live again. Two very likeable, engaging characters who had me rooting for them to make their unusual relationship work.
Because of the nature of the story you have to just accept the plot as it stands and not question the ins and outs. This is pure fantasy so just go with the flow and enjoy JL Merrows lovely writing style and ability to tell a delightful, charming tale. Short, sweet and satisfying. Time travel isn't always a favourite of mine but I did love this.
He sees a beautiful young man leaning against a lamppost and is immediately taken by him. It becomes obvious that this young man, Jem Pocket, is a rent boy. I leave it to you to find out what happens next, but I will tell you that Rob is a very sad man as this story starts and through this strange quirk of fate he begins to heal and live again. Two very likeable, engaging characters who had me rooting for them to make their unusual relationship work.
Because of the nature of the story you have to just accept the plot as it stands and not question the ins and outs. This is pure fantasy so just go with the flow and enjoy JL Merrows lovely writing style and ability to tell a delightful, charming tale. Short, sweet and satisfying. Time travel isn't always a favourite of mine but I did love this.
March 27, 2016
I am an impulse book buyer!
I saw JL Merrow's name and auto-bought it! Some writers just do that to me. I don't expect to love everything but I trust those few writers not to insult me.
Imagine my surprise, I don't like time-travel and I avoid sad stories but as expected Merrow hooked me and wouldn't let me go until long after the last page. Ted Ennis is a sad, broken man on the edge. He barely exists in his own little world. Strange things happen and he meets Jem. I loved Jem right away. I saw Jem though Ennis' eyes. It was lovely.
I prepared myself for the predictable ending most time-travel stories have that I dislike so much. Instead I was very pleased with the ending, not at all miffed with the shortness of the story. I keep seeing the possibilities of their lives together even now.
Long life the impulse.
I saw JL Merrow's name and auto-bought it! Some writers just do that to me. I don't expect to love everything but I trust those few writers not to insult me.
Imagine my surprise, I don't like time-travel and I avoid sad stories but as expected Merrow hooked me and wouldn't let me go until long after the last page. Ted Ennis is a sad, broken man on the edge. He barely exists in his own little world. Strange things happen and he meets Jem. I loved Jem right away. I saw Jem though Ennis' eyes. It was lovely.
I prepared myself for the predictable ending most time-travel stories have that I dislike so much. Instead I was very pleased with the ending, not at all miffed with the shortness of the story. I keep seeing the possibilities of their lives together even now.
Long life the impulse.
December 22, 2020
I've read Trick of Time by J.L. Merrow twice in the space of four days. The first time, I was so engrossed in the story that I basically devoured the entire novella in one sitting. The second one, I've tried to pace myself to fully enjoy the lovely language and characterizations.
Ted Ennis, solitary and scarred by a tragic accident, works as theatre assistant at London's Criterion Theatre. One night, stepping out for a cigarette break, he finds himself in the dark and shady atmosphere of Victorian London.
Jem Pocket, a poor London lad, sensitive and surprisingly accepting of Ted's bizarre story, is one of the numerous mary-anns - rent boys - that wait around Piccadilly Circus to pick up clients.
How their story intertwines and the complications of their 'long-distance' relationship make this short novella (too short! That's my only complaint here) a real page-turner.
Merrow, also the author of the delightful Muscling Through, paces her story in a relentless fashion and manages to construct a narrative that can go from amusing to tragic in a matter of paragraphs. The second half of the book really kept me on edge and, even on second reading, I've felt the same pangs of anxiety for the characters.
Both Ted and Jem are men wounded by life, by harsh upbringing and dramatic turns of events and, although slightly insta, I really enjoyed the way they find comfort, support and understanding in each other.
The squalor and callousness of Victorian London are perfectly conjured up and I could almost experience while reading its smells, its noises, its dirt and grime.
Certainly Trick of Time had all the potential to be developed into a much longer narrative and it's a shame that the author didn't go for a full-length novel. Despite this, however, this was a really lovely read and I absolutely recommend it!
Ted Ennis, solitary and scarred by a tragic accident, works as theatre assistant at London's Criterion Theatre. One night, stepping out for a cigarette break, he finds himself in the dark and shady atmosphere of Victorian London.
Jem Pocket, a poor London lad, sensitive and surprisingly accepting of Ted's bizarre story, is one of the numerous mary-anns - rent boys - that wait around Piccadilly Circus to pick up clients.
How their story intertwines and the complications of their 'long-distance' relationship make this short novella (too short! That's my only complaint here) a real page-turner.
Merrow, also the author of the delightful Muscling Through, paces her story in a relentless fashion and manages to construct a narrative that can go from amusing to tragic in a matter of paragraphs. The second half of the book really kept me on edge and, even on second reading, I've felt the same pangs of anxiety for the characters.
Both Ted and Jem are men wounded by life, by harsh upbringing and dramatic turns of events and, although slightly insta, I really enjoyed the way they find comfort, support and understanding in each other.
The squalor and callousness of Victorian London are perfectly conjured up and I could almost experience while reading its smells, its noises, its dirt and grime.
Certainly Trick of Time had all the potential to be developed into a much longer narrative and it's a shame that the author didn't go for a full-length novel. Despite this, however, this was a really lovely read and I absolutely recommend it!
December 17, 2012
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. My thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley. This review is cross posted on my blog.
I will admit that I have a unabashed love for romance involving time travel. It is one of my favorite romance genres when done well, and this story does it well.
Ted is a man recovering from a tragic loss. He is a bit lost, but not completely broken. He has his moments of angst (which considering the depth of his losses is completely understandable), but he hasn't let his tragedy overtake his life, and he even let it inspire him to make some big changes in his life.
The setting was interesting, and the theater sounds amazing. I like how the time travel worked, and that there wasn't any big, or complicated mechanism worked out. I like the simple mystery of it.
I really like Jem. It was nice to see how strong he was, and that being a prostitute didn't mean he weak, or a victim. I also liked how the historical aspects weren't romanticized, or glossed over. The reality of the city, and the danger faced by men like Ted added to the feeling of the story. I like how the poem was worked in, and how despite Jem's background he wasn't presented as stupid in any way.
The romance is well done, and I like the connection that the two share goes beyond the simply physical. The comfort, and the strength they find in each other is really nice. It made everything for me that much sexier. The ending was well done, and made me happy. A perfect winter read.
I will admit that I have a unabashed love for romance involving time travel. It is one of my favorite romance genres when done well, and this story does it well.
Ted is a man recovering from a tragic loss. He is a bit lost, but not completely broken. He has his moments of angst (which considering the depth of his losses is completely understandable), but he hasn't let his tragedy overtake his life, and he even let it inspire him to make some big changes in his life.
The setting was interesting, and the theater sounds amazing. I like how the time travel worked, and that there wasn't any big, or complicated mechanism worked out. I like the simple mystery of it.
I really like Jem. It was nice to see how strong he was, and that being a prostitute didn't mean he weak, or a victim. I also liked how the historical aspects weren't romanticized, or glossed over. The reality of the city, and the danger faced by men like Ted added to the feeling of the story. I like how the poem was worked in, and how despite Jem's background he wasn't presented as stupid in any way.
The romance is well done, and I like the connection that the two share goes beyond the simply physical. The comfort, and the strength they find in each other is really nice. It made everything for me that much sexier. The ending was well done, and made me happy. A perfect winter read.
July 17, 2016
4.5 Stars
Review posted on World of
Diversity Fictions
I love time travel stories. I haven’t read one for awhile. After reading this novella I have no idea why I haven’t. Now I’m totally on the hunt for more! I just wish the MM romance genre had more of them. I don’t care if they drive me nuts trying to figure out the logistics because that’s part of their charm.
This story has charm galore. It was sweet and romantic with a little bit of sadness in there. When we meet Ted he’s trying to recover from a tragic event, just going through the motions of everyday life alone. Ted works at an old Theatre in London and one night something special happens. When Ted steps outside for a break he finds himself in Victorian London. As he’s trying to figure out how this happened he spots Jem, a Rentboy, leaning against a lamppost. There is something about Jem that draws Ted to him.
It didn’t take me long to fall in love with these two and I just couldn’t imagine them not being together in either era. Thank goodness they find a way.
J.L. Merrow has a knack for storytelling, her writing is a pleasure to read and so wonderfully descriptive I feel like she had truly taken me back in time.
February 1, 2013
4.5 stars
I'm having a delightfully difficult time knowing how to classify this one. Part historical fiction, part paranormal, part contemporary, with elements of recovering from loss. All of these crazy disparate elements combine here with delightful alchemy into a lovely, sweet, hopeful story.
I'm glad the blurb didn't mention that Ted was kind of still dealing with the loss of his husband and his parents. I have to be in a certain kind of mood to deal with grief stories like that and I might have put this off otherwise. When I say he's only kind of dealing with it, I mean it's a year and a half after the accident, and Ted is right at the feeling-ready-to-move-on stage rather than the horribly depressing earlier stages that make me avoid this in stories when I can.
And Jem. /happy sigh. What a lovely person. The only thing I wished were any different about this book is that I'd gotten to see a little more of Jem's adjustment to things at the end, but only because his reactions that I did get to see were so fun.
Jem's easy acceptance of Ted and everything that came with him was just incredible. Especially considering his profession, he's just the sweetest, most trusting, patient, kind, laid-back, open, loving person. He was fascinating to read about, and to get to spend time with. It's no wonder I didn't want the book to end!
I really liked the time-travel element and how it was executed. Ted's various theories as to what was making it happen were perfectly timed, and perfectly-presented.
Some Favorite Quotes:
I'd always thought there ought to be something more, something beyond this shallow world of tragic lives and shattered dreams.
His soft kisses, his warm touch, seemed to fill a hunger that had been gnawing at me so long I'd just accepted the pain as part of life.
We stood there a long time, caught in an instant of a dance.
Or had it, some tool of a benevolent fate, existed solely so I could find him and ceased to function once its purpose had been met?
I'm having a delightfully difficult time knowing how to classify this one. Part historical fiction, part paranormal, part contemporary, with elements of recovering from loss. All of these crazy disparate elements combine here with delightful alchemy into a lovely, sweet, hopeful story.
I'm glad the blurb didn't mention that Ted was kind of still dealing with the loss of his husband and his parents. I have to be in a certain kind of mood to deal with grief stories like that and I might have put this off otherwise. When I say he's only kind of dealing with it, I mean it's a year and a half after the accident, and Ted is right at the feeling-ready-to-move-on stage rather than the horribly depressing earlier stages that make me avoid this in stories when I can.
And Jem. /happy sigh. What a lovely person. The only thing I wished were any different about this book is that I'd gotten to see a little more of Jem's adjustment to things at the end, but only because his reactions that I did get to see were so fun.
Jem's easy acceptance of Ted and everything that came with him was just incredible. Especially considering his profession, he's just the sweetest, most trusting, patient, kind, laid-back, open, loving person. He was fascinating to read about, and to get to spend time with. It's no wonder I didn't want the book to end!
I really liked the time-travel element and how it was executed. Ted's various theories as to what was making it happen were perfectly timed, and perfectly-presented.
Some Favorite Quotes:
I'd always thought there ought to be something more, something beyond this shallow world of tragic lives and shattered dreams.
"Nothing special about me," he said softly...
"You're wrong,"...
"No, I ain't. Throw a stone from where Cheapside meets Poultry and you'll hit ten of me. 'Course, we'll run after you and thrash the daylights out of you if you try it.
His soft kisses, his warm touch, seemed to fill a hunger that had been gnawing at me so long I'd just accepted the pain as part of life.
We stood there a long time, caught in an instant of a dance.
Or had it, some tool of a benevolent fate, existed solely so I could find him and ceased to function once its purpose had been met?
February 3, 2013
Well that packed quite an emotional punch. Not so much as it made me bawl my eyes out, but more of it having me go through from heartache to excitement to swooning to hopeful to just overall satisfied with how everything played out.
Since reading Tamara Allen's Downtime, I've been searching for another decent time travel m/m romance .
Ted Ennis goes out for a smoke outside Criterion Theather and ends up in Victorian London where he meets rentboy Jem Pocket. After a few interesting meetings, feelings are developed and they ultimately - well mostly Ted - have to decide whether they should be together and how they will manage it.
I've just gotten off a recent and very disappointing Merrow read and I wasn't sure I'd actually love this as much as I eventually did.
Unlike Light the Fire, though, this was written in first person POV and Ted - while not exactly in the same league as other more distinct Merrow narrators - was a damn sight better to read about than Kurt. I think the most noticeable distinction is that while both Kurt and Ted have lost loved ones and are trying to move on, Ted actually showed me his heartbreak and loss. My heart ached multiple times while Ted vaguely recalls memories from his past. I felt detached from him in the beginning, not really able to find a voice to match his narrative, but I chalk it up to him trying to be numb and mechanical - all the better to avoid the pain. His voice took on more life when he met Jem and the relationship developed and it was nice seeing the difference in the way he told his story.
I expected Jem to just be a convenient vessel for Ted's moving on, but I should have trusted Merrow more despite the disappointment of my last read because Jem was not just a convenient rentboy, but fleshed out and vulnerable, gorgeous but flawed. I loved how he was uncomplicated but not simple, and so accepting without being naive.
The setting was also portrayed beautifully, but that was to be expected. I'm not a stickler for historical details as long as there are no glaring errors and I trust the author, so everything described in Ted's jaunt through Victorian London - as well as the info on the punishment for homosexuals - I took as facts.
And as for the usual Merrow-Kinks pairing, I'm happy to report that my inner playlist is back and has chosen this song as this book's OST.
Since reading Tamara Allen's Downtime, I've been searching for another decent time travel m/m romance .
Ted Ennis goes out for a smoke outside Criterion Theather and ends up in Victorian London where he meets rentboy Jem Pocket. After a few interesting meetings, feelings are developed and they ultimately - well mostly Ted - have to decide whether they should be together and how they will manage it.
I've just gotten off a recent and very disappointing Merrow read and I wasn't sure I'd actually love this as much as I eventually did.
Unlike Light the Fire, though, this was written in first person POV and Ted - while not exactly in the same league as other more distinct Merrow narrators - was a damn sight better to read about than Kurt. I think the most noticeable distinction is that while both Kurt and Ted have lost loved ones and are trying to move on, Ted actually showed me his heartbreak and loss. My heart ached multiple times while Ted vaguely recalls memories from his past. I felt detached from him in the beginning, not really able to find a voice to match his narrative, but I chalk it up to him trying to be numb and mechanical - all the better to avoid the pain. His voice took on more life when he met Jem and the relationship developed and it was nice seeing the difference in the way he told his story.
I expected Jem to just be a convenient vessel for Ted's moving on, but I should have trusted Merrow more despite the disappointment of my last read because Jem was not just a convenient rentboy, but fleshed out and vulnerable, gorgeous but flawed. I loved how he was uncomplicated but not simple, and so accepting without being naive.
The setting was also portrayed beautifully, but that was to be expected. I'm not a stickler for historical details as long as there are no glaring errors and I trust the author, so everything described in Ted's jaunt through Victorian London - as well as the info on the punishment for homosexuals - I took as facts.
And as for the usual Merrow-Kinks pairing, I'm happy to report that my inner playlist is back and has chosen this song as this book's OST.
February 10, 2013
3.5 StarsWhen I saw this was a time travel story, I was so in. There were a lot of elements in this one; Ted is mourning the death of his long term lover and his parents, his accident has left him with some kind of brain injury, he time travels to the late 1800's, and he meets a rentboy named Jem. I would have settled for any of those topics to be explored in depth but I think due to this being a novella, some of this was treated superficially.
This may be because we only get to follow Ted and witness his reaction to suddenly finding himself back in time. I did like reading about this as this is the most fun aspects of these type of stories. He runs into Jem, a rent boy with a seeming heart of gold. Jem is quite a lovely character. I liked his easy acceptance of Ted. But when Ted goes back to present day Jem disappears as well. I wanted to see what Jem was doing in that time--is he missing Ted or is he just continuing his normal rent boy activities. Why does he sometimes sound very working class but then also very educated. I think we needed to get to know Jem more.
Since Jem's presence isn't felt continuously, I didn't feel the buildup of the relationship between he and Ted so I was genuinely surprised when they said they loved each other. But in order to enjoy this novella, you just have to accept certain things as facts like people can time travel and people from two different worlds can fall in love even if they only meet up for an hour a few times. I don't think this reached the level of my favorite time travel m/m book, Downtime, but this one was trying for a lighter tone. I think it's a nice addition to the time travel genre.
This may be because we only get to follow Ted and witness his reaction to suddenly finding himself back in time. I did like reading about this as this is the most fun aspects of these type of stories. He runs into Jem, a rent boy with a seeming heart of gold. Jem is quite a lovely character. I liked his easy acceptance of Ted. But when Ted goes back to present day Jem disappears as well. I wanted to see what Jem was doing in that time--is he missing Ted or is he just continuing his normal rent boy activities. Why does he sometimes sound very working class but then also very educated. I think we needed to get to know Jem more.
Since Jem's presence isn't felt continuously, I didn't feel the buildup of the relationship between he and Ted so I was genuinely surprised when they said they loved each other. But in order to enjoy this novella, you just have to accept certain things as facts like people can time travel and people from two different worlds can fall in love even if they only meet up for an hour a few times. I don't think this reached the level of my favorite time travel m/m book, Downtime, but this one was trying for a lighter tone. I think it's a nice addition to the time travel genre.
December 17, 2012
I found Trick of Time to be a most charming, romantic, sexy read. And despite the subject matter of one man stepping into another period in time it felt totally real and had me believing in the possibilites of it actually happening. I loved the MC's, Ted and Jem. I wanted a HEA and at one stage wasn't sure they would get one. Despite the length of the ebook the characters were all three dimensional, from the MC's through to the secondary characters. Both London present day and in the 1880's was vividly brought to life by J L Merrow. Terrific reading. Grab a copy when it comes out in January. Originally I gave 4.5 stars but I've rounded up to 5 stars as there was nothing that I did not enjoy in this ebook.
Full review at On Top Down Under Book Reviews -
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
This book was supplied to me by Carina Press via NetGalley for an honest review.
Full review at On Top Down Under Book Reviews -
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...
This book was supplied to me by Carina Press via NetGalley for an honest review.
June 7, 2017
I don't know why I put off reading this story for so long. Oh wait, I do know. I hate time travel. But I love rent boys. And I didn't like half of JL Merrow's stories. But I loved the other half of them. So, it was fifty-fifty whether this story was going to work for me.
And oh my, how well it worked! I just loved it so much I feel like rereading it right now. But no, I'll put it to my "Christmas re-read" folder. Even though the story doesn't happen on Christmas - it has that perfect Christmas feeling. When you wish for a miracle with all your heart - and it happens.
I know it's not an ideal book but I honestly don't care about its shortcomings. I'm in love with it, with Ted, and Jem, and their story.
And oh my, how well it worked! I just loved it so much I feel like rereading it right now. But no, I'll put it to my "Christmas re-read" folder. Even though the story doesn't happen on Christmas - it has that perfect Christmas feeling. When you wish for a miracle with all your heart - and it happens.
I know it's not an ideal book but I honestly don't care about its shortcomings. I'm in love with it, with Ted, and Jem, and their story.
December 9, 2013
Loved this!
Ted has been left alone after the tragic death of his both his parents and husband. He is now working for a friend in a London theatre, were when one night he steps outside for his usual smoke break, and walks in to 19th century London. There, he meets Jem, a beautiful rent boy who hasn't been living such a beautiful life. Ted needs to figure out he can spend more time with Jem, without losing Jem...or the future.
Sweet characters and a nice HEA! Plus, I just adore Victorian rent boys! I would have loved for this to have be written as a full length novel. I just wanted more of Ted and Jem.
Ted has been left alone after the tragic death of his both his parents and husband. He is now working for a friend in a London theatre, were when one night he steps outside for his usual smoke break, and walks in to 19th century London. There, he meets Jem, a beautiful rent boy who hasn't been living such a beautiful life. Ted needs to figure out he can spend more time with Jem, without losing Jem...or the future.
Sweet characters and a nice HEA! Plus, I just adore Victorian rent boys! I would have loved for this to have be written as a full length novel. I just wanted more of Ted and Jem.
December 31, 2020
3.5 stars
Short and sweet MM time-travel romance. Easy, entertaining read. Good writing.
Short and sweet MM time-travel romance. Easy, entertaining read. Good writing.
January 29, 2013
I am such a fan of this author. I believe this is my 7th by her. When I saw this book was available I could not wait to read it. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I had to put it on hold for awhile. I am so sorry I did.
Ted Ennis works at the Criterion Theatre in London. A former banker, he is now working at the only place that he feels would hire him. Thankfully, he loves his job and his boss is a friend. A year and a half prior, Ted lost his parents and life partner (Alastair) in a horrific accident that left Ted with a brain injury. This injury causes occasional dizziness, black-outs, slurred speech and tremors in his hand. He was forced to walk away from his banking job as a result. He has lived with the guilt of the accident and the grief of not only losing his parents but the man he loved.
During the showing of Wild Oats (a play that takes place in the 1800's) at the Criterion one night, Ted walks outside for a quick smoke. What he sees when he walks outside shocks him. He has stepped back in time to Victorian England, 1886. He is looking at the same streets and the outside of the same theatre, but it is definitely not the 21st century. Standing against a pole a few feet away from Ted is a handsome rent boy, Jem. After an experience with this man that shocks him to the core, Ted continues to go back outside to meet with him night after night. This continues until one night Ted tries to walk back into the Criterion after spending time with Jem only to discover that he is stuck in 1886. It takes a bit for him to figure out how to go back but he does with a promise to Jem that he will return the next evening. During the time that Ted is stuck in 1886, he and Jem spend the entire time getting to know each other. It's not just sex as each man has started to feel intense feelings for the other. Ted has been mourning the loss of Alastair for so long that for the first time in over a year, he is feeling something other than grief. Ted is finally able to walk back into the theatre and it is current day. Unfortunately, when he tries to return to Jem the next night, the 21st century is waiting outside for him. No 1886. It takes him three months to figure out how to get back to Jem only to return to the 1800's to find that it has been three years instead of three months ...... it is now 1889 and Jem is nowhere to be found. What Ted finds out about the man he has grown to love devastates him so he goes back inside the theatre and searches for a way to go back to the right time and bring Jem home with him.
Confused yet?
I thought I would be but I wasn't. This is a difficult one to review because of the way the author went about bringing everything together. I know this author's work as I mentioned being a big fan. I know that her books always have an HEA (at least the ones I've read) but no matter how I tried I could not figure out how she would be able to bring Ted and Jem together permanently, especially in a book that is not very long. I was convinced that there was not enough time to do this to my personal satisfaction. Not only did she do this, she did it well. I was quite pleased with the outcome and the story as a whole. The settings are described perfectly........ from the details of the 21st century to the 1800's. Everything is described so well that you can almost smell the smells that Ted was smelling.
Overall, an excellent book. It's not more of the same and for that I am grateful. This takes the reader a bit out there and the way it is done is perfect. Another great book by JL Merrow.
This book was provided by Net Galley and Carina Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ted Ennis works at the Criterion Theatre in London. A former banker, he is now working at the only place that he feels would hire him. Thankfully, he loves his job and his boss is a friend. A year and a half prior, Ted lost his parents and life partner (Alastair) in a horrific accident that left Ted with a brain injury. This injury causes occasional dizziness, black-outs, slurred speech and tremors in his hand. He was forced to walk away from his banking job as a result. He has lived with the guilt of the accident and the grief of not only losing his parents but the man he loved.
During the showing of Wild Oats (a play that takes place in the 1800's) at the Criterion one night, Ted walks outside for a quick smoke. What he sees when he walks outside shocks him. He has stepped back in time to Victorian England, 1886. He is looking at the same streets and the outside of the same theatre, but it is definitely not the 21st century. Standing against a pole a few feet away from Ted is a handsome rent boy, Jem. After an experience with this man that shocks him to the core, Ted continues to go back outside to meet with him night after night. This continues until one night Ted tries to walk back into the Criterion after spending time with Jem only to discover that he is stuck in 1886. It takes a bit for him to figure out how to go back but he does with a promise to Jem that he will return the next evening. During the time that Ted is stuck in 1886, he and Jem spend the entire time getting to know each other. It's not just sex as each man has started to feel intense feelings for the other. Ted has been mourning the loss of Alastair for so long that for the first time in over a year, he is feeling something other than grief. Ted is finally able to walk back into the theatre and it is current day. Unfortunately, when he tries to return to Jem the next night, the 21st century is waiting outside for him. No 1886. It takes him three months to figure out how to get back to Jem only to return to the 1800's to find that it has been three years instead of three months ...... it is now 1889 and Jem is nowhere to be found. What Ted finds out about the man he has grown to love devastates him so he goes back inside the theatre and searches for a way to go back to the right time and bring Jem home with him.
Confused yet?
I thought I would be but I wasn't. This is a difficult one to review because of the way the author went about bringing everything together. I know this author's work as I mentioned being a big fan. I know that her books always have an HEA (at least the ones I've read) but no matter how I tried I could not figure out how she would be able to bring Ted and Jem together permanently, especially in a book that is not very long. I was convinced that there was not enough time to do this to my personal satisfaction. Not only did she do this, she did it well. I was quite pleased with the outcome and the story as a whole. The settings are described perfectly........ from the details of the 21st century to the 1800's. Everything is described so well that you can almost smell the smells that Ted was smelling.
Overall, an excellent book. It's not more of the same and for that I am grateful. This takes the reader a bit out there and the way it is done is perfect. Another great book by JL Merrow.
This book was provided by Net Galley and Carina Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 7, 2013
Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/
Ted Ennis is walking through life but not living it since his husband was killed in a car wreck. A friend gets him a job at the Criterion Theatre just to give him something to do. He goes outside for a smoke while the play is going on and walks into Victorian England, 1886. He meets a lovely rent boy and loses his heart in time.
This was a beautifully written time travel story told from Ted's POV that just grabbed my heart. Ted was so broken until Jem walked into his life and gave him something worth living for again. Ted and Jem were a perfect couple and so very real that I felt that I was right there with them. The contrast between 1886 and 2013 was excellently portrayed from the coal dust to the gaudy lights of modern Piccadilly Circus. Watching Ted's reactions to old England was actually more interesting than seeing Jem's reaction to the England of today. The story line flowed beautifully and while the book was fairly short, there was a well developed romance with two fairly complex main characters. What truly sets this time travel story apart from so many others was that Ms Merrow centered on the actual time travel theme and used it as a way to bring drama to the story. Ted had to actually work with the time travel theory and figure out how it worked in order to find Jem again. I highly recommend this enchanting story whether you're looking for a good time travel story or just a feel good romance with a HEA.
Ted Ennis is walking through life but not living it since his husband was killed in a car wreck. A friend gets him a job at the Criterion Theatre just to give him something to do. He goes outside for a smoke while the play is going on and walks into Victorian England, 1886. He meets a lovely rent boy and loses his heart in time.
This was a beautifully written time travel story told from Ted's POV that just grabbed my heart. Ted was so broken until Jem walked into his life and gave him something worth living for again. Ted and Jem were a perfect couple and so very real that I felt that I was right there with them. The contrast between 1886 and 2013 was excellently portrayed from the coal dust to the gaudy lights of modern Piccadilly Circus. Watching Ted's reactions to old England was actually more interesting than seeing Jem's reaction to the England of today. The story line flowed beautifully and while the book was fairly short, there was a well developed romance with two fairly complex main characters. What truly sets this time travel story apart from so many others was that Ms Merrow centered on the actual time travel theme and used it as a way to bring drama to the story. Ted had to actually work with the time travel theory and figure out how it worked in order to find Jem again. I highly recommend this enchanting story whether you're looking for a good time travel story or just a feel good romance with a HEA.
February 2, 2013
I was pretty skeptical going into this read, for one reason I’m not of fan of time-travel and not many authors can pull off a good enough story without boring the living shit out of me. But this was a pleasant surprise I found that the characters were likable. The whole Victorian Dickens era is one of my favorites being a historical fan and all… Jems, dialect was spot on. I wish there were a villain or two or even some crazy drama to keep me guessing .pretty much everything was predictable, but engaging.
This is one of those books were you have to be in a pleasant mood and wanting something a little lite before bed, where you can curl up with your E-reader and just enjoy ..
This is one of those books were you have to be in a pleasant mood and wanting something a little lite before bed, where you can curl up with your E-reader and just enjoy ..
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