What do you think?
Rate this book
Helen Foster #1
A Lady Out of Time
From Book 1: Sent back in time to Victorian England to stop the invention of a deadly weapon, Helen Foster knows the job looks too easy: All she has to do is go to an auction, buy the weapon plans, destroy them, and she’ll save millions of people back in her own time. And even if she spends the rest of her life as a spinster stuck in the English countryside with a plethora of cats, changing the future is worth it.
Then she meets Edward Clifton, Duke of Somervale, the man she’s supposed to blackmail. He is one of the most powerful men in the land, so handsome and cold that debutantes have been known to faint in his presence. After one meeting, Helen will be thrilled to never see his royal (and quite spectacular) backside, ever again.
But as her mission falls apart and danger closes in, Helen has no choice but to turn to the one man powerful enough to help her not just change the future, but survive the night.
This is the first of two books in Helen's series. The concluding book, A Lady Most Dangerous is available now! Please be aware that the swearing is pervasive, the sexual tension blistering and the historical details have not been taken too seriously.
Then she meets Edward Clifton, Duke of Somervale, the man she’s supposed to blackmail. He is one of the most powerful men in the land, so handsome and cold that debutantes have been known to faint in his presence. After one meeting, Helen will be thrilled to never see his royal (and quite spectacular) backside, ever again.
But as her mission falls apart and danger closes in, Helen has no choice but to turn to the one man powerful enough to help her not just change the future, but survive the night.
This is the first of two books in Helen's series. The concluding book, A Lady Most Dangerous is available now! Please be aware that the swearing is pervasive, the sexual tension blistering and the historical details have not been taken too seriously.
Unknown Binding
Published June 30, 2013
286 people are currently reading
819 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Hanson
18 books660 followersCaroline Hanson grew up in California and moved to London in order to dance and go to pubs. Eventually, she matured enough to marry and imported an Englishman, returning to the United States.
After passing the bar, she had two children and now tries to parent, read, write and play tennis. She's heard rumors that other mothers clean and cook but is putting in serious effort to make sure those rumors don't reach her family.
Caroline grew up listening to Brit pop and reading about vampires. As a teenager her favorite authors were Anne Rice and Jude Deveraux. Now she loves Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Laura Kinsale, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Nalini Singh and JR Ward-- that's the short list.
She is also the proud owner of a WWJD t-shirt, (What Would Joss do?) which she hopes is apparent in her books.
She loves to hear from fans and her second book in the Valerie Dearborn Series, Love is Fear, will be published in December 2011.
A free short story called Bewitching the Werewolf was released in September on Smashwords.
After passing the bar, she had two children and now tries to parent, read, write and play tennis. She's heard rumors that other mothers clean and cook but is putting in serious effort to make sure those rumors don't reach her family.
Caroline grew up listening to Brit pop and reading about vampires. As a teenager her favorite authors were Anne Rice and Jude Deveraux. Now she loves Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Laura Kinsale, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Nalini Singh and JR Ward-- that's the short list.
She is also the proud owner of a WWJD t-shirt, (What Would Joss do?) which she hopes is apparent in her books.
She loves to hear from fans and her second book in the Valerie Dearborn Series, Love is Fear, will be published in December 2011.
A free short story called Bewitching the Werewolf was released in September on Smashwords.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 31, 2019
.
This review is for: A Lady Out of Time: Helen Foster Book 1 (Published: Dec 13, 2013)
The premise was interesting and the characters were well-developed. The story itself was mostly well-written, fast-paced, and sometimes humorous. The time travel concept is a huge draw. However, the use of profanity was totally unnecessary and offensive.
The conclusion leaves the heroine without her love interest and the mystery remains unsolved. There is a CLIFFHANGER (teaser) to attract your attention to the next book. This installment was free at Amazon and it appears to have only one more book in the series entitled: A Lady Most Dangerous (Helen Foster Book 2) (Published: Apr 9, 2014) at a charge of $3.99. The description on Amazon clearly states:
This is the second and final book in Helen's and Edward's story. This book includes sex, swearing and historical liberties taken.
With that welcome warning, I will avoid it totally due to my preference of reading clean literature. I surely don't feel like paying for something that I would rather avoid.
This review is for: A Lady Out of Time: Helen Foster Book 1 (Published: Dec 13, 2013)
The premise was interesting and the characters were well-developed. The story itself was mostly well-written, fast-paced, and sometimes humorous. The time travel concept is a huge draw. However, the use of profanity was totally unnecessary and offensive.
The conclusion leaves the heroine without her love interest and the mystery remains unsolved. There is a CLIFFHANGER (teaser) to attract your attention to the next book. This installment was free at Amazon and it appears to have only one more book in the series entitled: A Lady Most Dangerous (Helen Foster Book 2) (Published: Apr 9, 2014) at a charge of $3.99. The description on Amazon clearly states:
This is the second and final book in Helen's and Edward's story. This book includes sex, swearing and historical liberties taken.
With that welcome warning, I will avoid it totally due to my preference of reading clean literature. I surely don't feel like paying for something that I would rather avoid.
February 14, 2018
3.5 stars
I'm not a romance reader. I tend to avoid it despite never really giving it a proper try. But I was really, really into the premise of this book (I'm a sucker for time-travel), the reviews I looked at were very promising, plus I got the ebook for free. what more can a girl ask for?
Right off the bat, I could tell this was a good author who knew how to write. The first page roped me in, which is not very common; I'm picky. The writing is clever, Helen's POV had me chuckling and giving the girl kudos straight away. I knew very quickly this was going to be an intelligent, witty, and badass female protagonist, which the world truly needs more of.
With the introduction of the romantic interest, I was ever so slightly annoyed, but that's on me, I am far too critical of romance. I got a bit scared that this book was off to such a great start with a protagonist I already loved only to have all my hopes and dreams smashed to bits as soon as the romance commenced. I feared this clever, badass woman would be reduced to a damsel in distress and I wouldn't be able to like her any longer. I will admit the swiftness with which the two get taken with each other irked me a bit, but it is a short novel and I knew what I was signing up for.
Overall, the plot remained great, and the writing was very good throughout the whole thing. The "romance" was a relatively short compared to the rest of the plot, and I actually did enjoy it while it was happening. The entire book is enthralling, and while I have yet to be entirely sold on romance novels of any sort, this book certainly brought me a step or two closer. 4.5 stars, well earned. I am buying the 2nd book asap.
I'm not a romance reader. I tend to avoid it despite never really giving it a proper try. But I was really, really into the premise of this book (I'm a sucker for time-travel), the reviews I looked at were very promising, plus I got the ebook for free. what more can a girl ask for?
Right off the bat, I could tell this was a good author who knew how to write. The first page roped me in, which is not very common; I'm picky. The writing is clever, Helen's POV had me chuckling and giving the girl kudos straight away. I knew very quickly this was going to be an intelligent, witty, and badass female protagonist, which the world truly needs more of.
With the introduction of the romantic interest, I was ever so slightly annoyed, but that's on me, I am far too critical of romance. I got a bit scared that this book was off to such a great start with a protagonist I already loved only to have all my hopes and dreams smashed to bits as soon as the romance commenced. I feared this clever, badass woman would be reduced to a damsel in distress and I wouldn't be able to like her any longer. I will admit the swiftness with which the two get taken with each other irked me a bit, but it is a short novel and I knew what I was signing up for.
Overall, the plot remained great, and the writing was very good throughout the whole thing. The "romance" was a relatively short compared to the rest of the plot, and I actually did enjoy it while it was happening. The entire book is enthralling, and while I have yet to be entirely sold on romance novels of any sort, this book certainly brought me a step or two closer. 4.5 stars, well earned. I am buying the 2nd book asap.
December 4, 2016
Great read but NO ending.. Gotta buy the next book..
This was a very good story. I just loved Edward and Helen, and Mary, too. This was about Helen, a soldier from the year 2089 who was sent back to 1854 to stop the Nazis from conquering the world. It was exciting all the way through.
There was no sex but there was an amazing amount of desire coming from Edward and Helen, it was fantastic. For those of you who like to read about the feelings that come before the sex this story is for you. I always said that Samantha Holt was best at writing about desire/sexual tension but Caroline Hanson can now give Ms. Holt a run for her money.
As to the narrator: Emily Woo Zeller did a truly fantastic job. Whether it was Helen’s crazy thoughts of desire, or arguing with herself or of Edward’s sexy voice, or the emotions that should come with the readers, she did an incredible job.
My only problem with this book is that it only had 185 pages and it was a CLIFFHANGER and the next book is 129 pages. So, instead of just writing one whole book she left it WITHOUT a HEA and without a real ending. I will NOT be reading the second book because I WILL NOT pay $5.00 for 129 pages. I hate publishers/authors who do that crap.
This was a very good story. I just loved Edward and Helen, and Mary, too. This was about Helen, a soldier from the year 2089 who was sent back to 1854 to stop the Nazis from conquering the world. It was exciting all the way through.
There was no sex but there was an amazing amount of desire coming from Edward and Helen, it was fantastic. For those of you who like to read about the feelings that come before the sex this story is for you. I always said that Samantha Holt was best at writing about desire/sexual tension but Caroline Hanson can now give Ms. Holt a run for her money.
As to the narrator: Emily Woo Zeller did a truly fantastic job. Whether it was Helen’s crazy thoughts of desire, or arguing with herself or of Edward’s sexy voice, or the emotions that should come with the readers, she did an incredible job.
My only problem with this book is that it only had 185 pages and it was a CLIFFHANGER and the next book is 129 pages. So, instead of just writing one whole book she left it WITHOUT a HEA and without a real ending. I will NOT be reading the second book because I WILL NOT pay $5.00 for 129 pages. I hate publishers/authors who do that crap.
July 1, 2013
****SPOILER FREE REVIEW****
I admit I was a bit nervous when I was asked by Caroline Hanson to beta read this book, but only because I love her PNR series and this book was completely different. I was excited about reading it, but definitely nervous.
I gave this book 5 stars because it completely captured me. It's funny and fast paced and sexy! I read this baby in about 2 days (would have been less had I not had 2 ankle biters needing my attention lol!)
Another thing I admit is not being a huge fan of regency type novels (is that what they're called? lol! Period novels?) Anyway, that was another reason why I was nervous to read this book. I don't read a lot of Victorian era romance novels,they aren't really my thing...buuuuuuuuut, I have to say, the way Caroline wrote this one, I was so in love and fascinated by it all. Having a modern women in the Victorian era was genius!
Okay, on to Edward. Le sigh. I think we're all thinking it, right? Or is it just me? This name made me pause. Yes, I was a bit bummed out over the name. I just can't see this name with out thinking of a certain sparkly vampire that I'm (don't kill me!) kinda sick of. Then I read Caroline's Edward and it was like she slapped me across the face and said, "Focus!" And boy did I focus. Edward is this kind of natural dominant, but well mannered man and every other Edward I've ever read completely vanished from my mind! He's like a safe of contradictions and mystery and I just want to crack open that fucking safe and see inside. Le fucking Sigh. He's seriously fuckawesome.
Helen is the heroine and she just kicks ass. She takes on the mission scared but determined and I enjoyed that. Who the hell wouldn't be scared shitless? She's smart and funny and I love the chemistry she has with Edward! It's instant and I love that.
Overall this book hooked me and kept me glued to the page. I cannot wait for the next book!
Yajaira Diaz
I admit I was a bit nervous when I was asked by Caroline Hanson to beta read this book, but only because I love her PNR series and this book was completely different. I was excited about reading it, but definitely nervous.
I gave this book 5 stars because it completely captured me. It's funny and fast paced and sexy! I read this baby in about 2 days (would have been less had I not had 2 ankle biters needing my attention lol!)
Another thing I admit is not being a huge fan of regency type novels (is that what they're called? lol! Period novels?) Anyway, that was another reason why I was nervous to read this book. I don't read a lot of Victorian era romance novels,they aren't really my thing...buuuuuuuuut, I have to say, the way Caroline wrote this one, I was so in love and fascinated by it all. Having a modern women in the Victorian era was genius!
Okay, on to Edward. Le sigh. I think we're all thinking it, right? Or is it just me? This name made me pause. Yes, I was a bit bummed out over the name. I just can't see this name with out thinking of a certain sparkly vampire that I'm (don't kill me!) kinda sick of. Then I read Caroline's Edward and it was like she slapped me across the face and said, "Focus!" And boy did I focus. Edward is this kind of natural dominant, but well mannered man and every other Edward I've ever read completely vanished from my mind! He's like a safe of contradictions and mystery and I just want to crack open that fucking safe and see inside. Le fucking Sigh. He's seriously fuckawesome.
Helen is the heroine and she just kicks ass. She takes on the mission scared but determined and I enjoyed that. Who the hell wouldn't be scared shitless? She's smart and funny and I love the chemistry she has with Edward! It's instant and I love that.
Overall this book hooked me and kept me glued to the page. I cannot wait for the next book!
Yajaira Diaz
Want to read
November 17, 2017FREE on Amazon today (11/17/2017)!
August 31, 2017
In an alternate future where the Nazis won the war, an American soldier is sent back in time to Victorian London in order to find and destroy the plans for a weapon, which will change the future. Of course, things are never that simple...
An intriguing plot and a humorous narrative leads to a 4-star review from me
An intriguing plot and a humorous narrative leads to a 4-star review from me
June 28, 2015
3.75 stars
Creative story, and I liked it a lot. However, I can't give it more stars because she split the story into two books, when it really should just be one.
Creative story, and I liked it a lot. However, I can't give it more stars because she split the story into two books, when it really should just be one.
June 4, 2020
Well this wasn't was I was expecting but I just went on cover and didn't read the blurb. I'm not usually a historical girl but i did enjoy this. I like the alternative times and the characters grew on me. I hated the fact that they fell for each other. I loved the fact that the time line kept being changed.
November 1, 2017
The idea of going back in time is certainly not new, nor is the "time-jump to fix the future." However, sending a soldier? Not a historian. Not a man. A female solider hardened by a desolate future.
That was the reason I picked this book up.
I liked this book for so many reasons, first of which was the setting. What can I say? It's a fun time period. Secondly, I liked the characters. They were who they were, and both were hardened by their backgrounds. Third, the idea of a war being fought from the past when it's already been lost in the future? That's got all kinds of exceptional potential.
Now there was a point at which I found myself shaking my head about a character decision for plot convenience, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. AND because I'm exclusively a "clean" romance type reader, there was one scene I had to skip...and some strong innuendo along that way that was a bit much. Regular romance readers will likely have no problems with either of these.
Over all, I enjoyed the book enough that I actually went and got the second one. *gasp* And yes, there are only two. Very doable.
Content warning: Language, innuendo, one steamy scene.
That was the reason I picked this book up.
I liked this book for so many reasons, first of which was the setting. What can I say? It's a fun time period. Secondly, I liked the characters. They were who they were, and both were hardened by their backgrounds. Third, the idea of a war being fought from the past when it's already been lost in the future? That's got all kinds of exceptional potential.
Now there was a point at which I found myself shaking my head about a character decision for plot convenience, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. AND because I'm exclusively a "clean" romance type reader, there was one scene I had to skip...and some strong innuendo along that way that was a bit much. Regular romance readers will likely have no problems with either of these.
Over all, I enjoyed the book enough that I actually went and got the second one. *gasp* And yes, there are only two. Very doable.
Content warning: Language, innuendo, one steamy scene.
November 17, 2016
This was a 3.5 star read for me.
It's 2089 and Helen Foster is a genetically enhanced American soldier, fighting the Nazis. Due to the discovery of a superweapon, World War II never ended, and has rumbled on over the intervening hundred and some years. But now the higher ups have discovered that it might be possible to send someone very special back in time to obtain the plans for the superweapon and thwart the Nazis' plans. Helen is that special someone. The trouble is, it's a one way trip, and she can't take anything with her, not even clothing. Thanks to historic documents, she does know when and where the plans will be sold, and she can obtain money by blackmailing an illegitimate Duke. So she's packed off through time to 1853, with orders to save the world then fade quietly into obscurity so that she doesn't change the timeline any further.
Unfortunately, Helen has had minimal time to prepare, and she finds her sweary soldierly self adrift in a society which she quite clearly doesn't belong to. Grappling with social niceties and corsets are only part of her problem though, as, of course, the Duke is not at all happy about brash Helen and her blackmail. When her mission to buy the weapon plans are thwarted, she is forced to turn to him for help. But Edward is not prepared to let her have her own way, and inserts himself into her life to ensure he gets his hands on the diary she is using to blackmail him. He's drawn to this strange woman and the escape from his regulated, dull life, and so it becomes a matter of whether they can trust one another.
This was a very short book, and a quick read. I'm not entirely sure why Helen was given so little time in the future for prep—after all, she's going back into the past, which isn't going anywhere or changing until she gets there. There's a lot of swearing and some moderately explicit sexual moments, so if you prefer your historical romances clean, this probably wouldn't be the book for you. There's not a huge amount of world building in either the future or the past, and a few historical errors have crept in. If you're a stickler for accuracy these might annoy you. I tend to work on the principle that I've already suspended my disbelief sufficiently for the time travel side of things, so I can perfectly well hoist it a bit higher and deal with the presence of pound coins and Canary Wharf being on an ocean rather than a river.
This was a fun romp, but it felt like half a book, especially as it ended rather abruptly. Looking at the sequel, which seems to be even shorter, I wonder if this might have been better if the two separate short books were just put together as one longer novel. Helen and Edward are entertaining central characters, a definite case of worlds colliding. The villain was a bit limp, ultimately, and Nazis as the Big Bad has perhaps been a mite overused in alternate history fiction. I'll probably pick up the sequel at some point.
It's 2089 and Helen Foster is a genetically enhanced American soldier, fighting the Nazis. Due to the discovery of a superweapon, World War II never ended, and has rumbled on over the intervening hundred and some years. But now the higher ups have discovered that it might be possible to send someone very special back in time to obtain the plans for the superweapon and thwart the Nazis' plans. Helen is that special someone. The trouble is, it's a one way trip, and she can't take anything with her, not even clothing. Thanks to historic documents, she does know when and where the plans will be sold, and she can obtain money by blackmailing an illegitimate Duke. So she's packed off through time to 1853, with orders to save the world then fade quietly into obscurity so that she doesn't change the timeline any further.
Unfortunately, Helen has had minimal time to prepare, and she finds her sweary soldierly self adrift in a society which she quite clearly doesn't belong to. Grappling with social niceties and corsets are only part of her problem though, as, of course, the Duke is not at all happy about brash Helen and her blackmail. When her mission to buy the weapon plans are thwarted, she is forced to turn to him for help. But Edward is not prepared to let her have her own way, and inserts himself into her life to ensure he gets his hands on the diary she is using to blackmail him. He's drawn to this strange woman and the escape from his regulated, dull life, and so it becomes a matter of whether they can trust one another.
This was a very short book, and a quick read. I'm not entirely sure why Helen was given so little time in the future for prep—after all, she's going back into the past, which isn't going anywhere or changing until she gets there. There's a lot of swearing and some moderately explicit sexual moments, so if you prefer your historical romances clean, this probably wouldn't be the book for you. There's not a huge amount of world building in either the future or the past, and a few historical errors have crept in. If you're a stickler for accuracy these might annoy you. I tend to work on the principle that I've already suspended my disbelief sufficiently for the time travel side of things, so I can perfectly well hoist it a bit higher and deal with the presence of pound coins and Canary Wharf being on an ocean rather than a river.
This was a fun romp, but it felt like half a book, especially as it ended rather abruptly. Looking at the sequel, which seems to be even shorter, I wonder if this might have been better if the two separate short books were just put together as one longer novel. Helen and Edward are entertaining central characters, a definite case of worlds colliding. The villain was a bit limp, ultimately, and Nazis as the Big Bad has perhaps been a mite overused in alternate history fiction. I'll probably pick up the sequel at some point.
July 12, 2016
Audio
This wasn't a long book and the story wasn't very complex. As far as time travelling stories go, it most certainly isn't the best I've read recently, and perhaps that skews my perspective a bit. After just having read the first 3 books of the more complex and well-developed time travelling series by April White (starting with Marking Time), this one paled in comparison. Perhaps with some distance I would have liked this more.
As it is, it was a light, quick read, with some sexy bits thrown in for fluff.
For conservative readers: There is a lot of bad language (including multiple uses of the F-bomb) and gratuitous imaginings of sexual encounters in this book. I wouldn't recommend it for most conservative readers.
This wasn't a long book and the story wasn't very complex. As far as time travelling stories go, it most certainly isn't the best I've read recently, and perhaps that skews my perspective a bit. After just having read the first 3 books of the more complex and well-developed time travelling series by April White (starting with Marking Time), this one paled in comparison. Perhaps with some distance I would have liked this more.
As it is, it was a light, quick read, with some sexy bits thrown in for fluff.
For conservative readers: There is a lot of bad language (including multiple uses of the F-bomb) and gratuitous imaginings of sexual encounters in this book. I wouldn't recommend it for most conservative readers.
January 1, 2016
Great story!!! I'm glad I read this book. It was a complete 180 from the first book I read from the author. I decided to read a more recent book by her and was not disappointed! The characters were more descriptive and the scenes didn't jump randomly. There was WAY more description overall and the storyline flowed smoothly. I can't wait to read the second book. Definitely must have been a fluke with the Valerie Dearborn book that I didn't like. This was a world of difference from the last one. MUCH, MUCH better!!! It was exciting and suspenseful too! Helen was kind of a crappy soldier but compared to Valerie Dearborn, it was a HUGE improvement... like night and day...a breath of fresh air! The characters really came alive in this story! Wish it were a bit longer, it DID seem like half a story, but I'm happy to be able to give a positive review this time!
June 25, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It is funny and fast paced. The premise of an alternate future where the Nazis won the war is not over politicalized, but merely a catalyst to bring the hero and heroine together. This is a fun sexy read, but not filled with arbitrary sex. I like my romance books romantic--not explicitly erotic. The language is a little off-putting at times, but it isn't indiscriminate. It fits the character, a modern independent woman soldier who suddenly finds herself in world where women are expected to be subservient and demure. One of the best romantic time travels I've read. I'm off to Amazon to purchase the sequel.
February 23, 2017
different take
It starts out differently the time is in the future but the nazis won the war the due to a weapon that was designed in past so our heroine must go into the past to change that and she is to blackmail our hero for money. The book gets very exciting with all of the things going on and our heroine trying to buy those plans but be warned you must read a secound book which must be purchased to find out more about there romance Ive been snared so I am purchasing it I hope I dont have to buy a third that would be irritating since i dont like to wait for books or series especialy about the same couple
It starts out differently the time is in the future but the nazis won the war the due to a weapon that was designed in past so our heroine must go into the past to change that and she is to blackmail our hero for money. The book gets very exciting with all of the things going on and our heroine trying to buy those plans but be warned you must read a secound book which must be purchased to find out more about there romance Ive been snared so I am purchasing it I hope I dont have to buy a third that would be irritating since i dont like to wait for books or series especialy about the same couple
September 27, 2013
Well written with an interesting plot and great character development. Highly recommend.
October 16, 2023
I had a lot of fun while reading this book, much more than I had expected from a time travel romance. The main character sparkled and was gutsy. I even enjoyed it so much that I bought the sequel.
December 28, 2017
First reviewed for my blog The Purple Booker
This is one of my freebies that I got from Amazon, and honestly, I was not expecting too much from it. That said, I really enjoyed this book. It was a little bit short and there was some of it that didn't really seem to fit together completely, but beyond that it's a fun read and I have learned to accept that free reads are often going to be shorter. My biggest complaint is that the ending is really open. I am sure that was done on purpose so you will want to read the next book, but I don't like books that literally feel like they end mid thought. Anyways, onto the book itself.
I don't want to give spoilers away, but this is a really fun little romp. A strong fantastic woman from the future goes back to Victorian times when women had to act in a far different manner so she can save the world. I admire the bravery it took to go back to this time knowing full well that even if she succeeds in her mission, she would never see her home world again. Of course, everything has a wrench thrown in when the man she needs to blackmail the Duke of Somervale really isn't so bad after all. Helen certainly has to make a lot of choices and finds herself in a lot of different pickles she didn't expect. It was a bit of a lesson in how to not assume things will go like you think just because they look simple on the surface.
While I had a few issues with this book it was good enough to make me want to read the next one to see what happens. So I will be looking at the second installment and hopefully it will help me a bit with my closure issues.
This is one of my freebies that I got from Amazon, and honestly, I was not expecting too much from it. That said, I really enjoyed this book. It was a little bit short and there was some of it that didn't really seem to fit together completely, but beyond that it's a fun read and I have learned to accept that free reads are often going to be shorter. My biggest complaint is that the ending is really open. I am sure that was done on purpose so you will want to read the next book, but I don't like books that literally feel like they end mid thought. Anyways, onto the book itself.
I don't want to give spoilers away, but this is a really fun little romp. A strong fantastic woman from the future goes back to Victorian times when women had to act in a far different manner so she can save the world. I admire the bravery it took to go back to this time knowing full well that even if she succeeds in her mission, she would never see her home world again. Of course, everything has a wrench thrown in when the man she needs to blackmail the Duke of Somervale really isn't so bad after all. Helen certainly has to make a lot of choices and finds herself in a lot of different pickles she didn't expect. It was a bit of a lesson in how to not assume things will go like you think just because they look simple on the surface.
While I had a few issues with this book it was good enough to make me want to read the next one to see what happens. So I will be looking at the second installment and hopefully it will help me a bit with my closure issues.
December 18, 2017
If my bloody job didn't keep getting in my way, I would have happily finished this book in one sitting.
This book begins in 2089 when we are introduced to Helen Foster. World War 2 still has not ended. And now Helen needs to travel back to victorian England to attend an auction in order to stop the blueprints for a super weapon ending up in the wrong hands.
The time travel part of this plan is the easy part. Unfortunately, the difficult part is the fact that Helen can't take anything with her as she travels to the past. No possessions, which means no money and certainly no clothes. So the plan is for Helen to travel back in time and make contact with a Duke who she will then blackmail for money which needs to be enough for Helen to be able to afford to win the auction, clothe herself, find somewhere to live and then live out the rest of her days in comfort because you see, this is a one - way trip.
I've given this book 4 stars because I really enjoyed it. Enjoyed it despite the huge amount of errors. Why were so many mistakes allowed to be published? I'm talking about silly things, like us (English) having sidewalks and the such like . . . just too many Americanisms for a book that was set in England.
I will be reading part two of this book very soon.
This book begins in 2089 when we are introduced to Helen Foster. World War 2 still has not ended. And now Helen needs to travel back to victorian England to attend an auction in order to stop the blueprints for a super weapon ending up in the wrong hands.
The time travel part of this plan is the easy part. Unfortunately, the difficult part is the fact that Helen can't take anything with her as she travels to the past. No possessions, which means no money and certainly no clothes. So the plan is for Helen to travel back in time and make contact with a Duke who she will then blackmail for money which needs to be enough for Helen to be able to afford to win the auction, clothe herself, find somewhere to live and then live out the rest of her days in comfort because you see, this is a one - way trip.
I've given this book 4 stars because I really enjoyed it. Enjoyed it despite the huge amount of errors. Why were so many mistakes allowed to be published? I'm talking about silly things, like us (English) having sidewalks and the such like . . . just too many Americanisms for a book that was set in England.
I will be reading part two of this book very soon.
July 2, 2018
Oh woe is me, it's a cliffhanger! This is book 1 out of how many more books? What a bummer!
The book was excellent overall. It was well-written, the characters were well-developed and interesting, and other were some pretty cool surprises thrown in here and there making it difficult to find a stopping point, or put the book down. I loved the whole book, right up to the part where the heroine loses her love interest, and discovers that she still hasn't wrapped the case up with a pretty bow, because there's still more missions and work waiting to be done! So if you can afford all of the series, you'll enjoy it, but if you can't afford to buy the continuations, then you might want to skip it altogether, despite how good the first book turns out by itself.
The book was excellent overall. It was well-written, the characters were well-developed and interesting, and other were some pretty cool surprises thrown in here and there making it difficult to find a stopping point, or put the book down. I loved the whole book, right up to the part where the heroine loses her love interest, and discovers that she still hasn't wrapped the case up with a pretty bow, because there's still more missions and work waiting to be done! So if you can afford all of the series, you'll enjoy it, but if you can't afford to buy the continuations, then you might want to skip it altogether, despite how good the first book turns out by itself.
September 2, 2017
Lazy writing, lots of unnecessary coarse language.
The days of clean writing have passed, but some authors use so much of it, it distracts from the actual story. This book falls into this category. A shame since the actual plotline was intriguing. I would have enjoyed reading it to the end, but all the unnecessary curse words and coarse word adjectives (lazy writing to throw in swear words instead of true adjectives) caused me to turn to another book and write this poor review. Let me know if a PG rated version ever is published. The storyline was intriguing and I'd love reading a "clean" version of this book.
The days of clean writing have passed, but some authors use so much of it, it distracts from the actual story. This book falls into this category. A shame since the actual plotline was intriguing. I would have enjoyed reading it to the end, but all the unnecessary curse words and coarse word adjectives (lazy writing to throw in swear words instead of true adjectives) caused me to turn to another book and write this poor review. Let me know if a PG rated version ever is published. The storyline was intriguing and I'd love reading a "clean" version of this book.
September 6, 2017
grade B-. This was a really quick read with time travel premise. This is also an alternate universe where Germany won WWII and has been at war with everyone else for the last 100 years. Time travel is a new invention and they send Helen (women travel better than men) back to intercept the beginning plans of a weapon the Germans use to win the war. This throws Helen into the path of the Duke of Somervale where he is both attracted and suspicious. The premise set up was fine and the character interaction was good but plausibility was scarcely available. Full letter grade drop for the lack of ending and a cliffhanger ending. I would have skipped it entirely if I had known it was a serial.
December 13, 2017
Wow! Excellent story
It's not easy finding good time travel stories. That makes this one a real treasure. It's well-written and the story flows.
Helen Foster is a soldier in 2089. She is selected for a special mission. Helen must travel back to 1853 and attend an auction, buy the plans for a terribly destructive weapon called Warmaker, then destroy the plans.
But first things first. Since she can take nothing with her, the first order of business is to find some clothes. Then she must blackmail Edward, the Duke of Somervale to obtain money to buy the plans and to live on for the rest of her life. There is no going back.
2
It's not easy finding good time travel stories. That makes this one a real treasure. It's well-written and the story flows.
Helen Foster is a soldier in 2089. She is selected for a special mission. Helen must travel back to 1853 and attend an auction, buy the plans for a terribly destructive weapon called Warmaker, then destroy the plans.
But first things first. Since she can take nothing with her, the first order of business is to find some clothes. Then she must blackmail Edward, the Duke of Somervale to obtain money to buy the plans and to live on for the rest of her life. There is no going back.
2
October 28, 2017
While I really liked the writing style of this new author (new to me). The plot is interesting .. it is well developed, highly entertaining with the fire between Helen and the duke but I am not sure you can call this a love story aka romance. There was no real romance.. lots of fighting.. lots of danger. Some ice melting as time goes on..
This is a book one in how ever many.. the hook to get you to purchase the rest of the story. It has no ending but it does leave you with a bad taste of her being ordered to not see him again.. which just doesn't make any sense.
This is a book one in how ever many.. the hook to get you to purchase the rest of the story. It has no ending but it does leave you with a bad taste of her being ordered to not see him again.. which just doesn't make any sense.
November 12, 2017
Soldier WHO...
A more unusual approach to time travel, more of a Sci-Fi approach. I enjoyed every minute of of it. I read it all in one sitting. Too intriguing to put off finding out what happened next. Love the personality of the two main characters. Looking forward to learning more of their interactions and the resulting escapades in the remaking sequel. The novel is a standalone story, but wait! There is more...
A more unusual approach to time travel, more of a Sci-Fi approach. I enjoyed every minute of of it. I read it all in one sitting. Too intriguing to put off finding out what happened next. Love the personality of the two main characters. Looking forward to learning more of their interactions and the resulting escapades in the remaking sequel. The novel is a standalone story, but wait! There is more...
February 20, 2018
Fun little story about a wm soldier (Helen) in the yr 2089. The Nazi's are still in power and Helen is sent back in time to stop the sell of the designs of a super weapon that will save millions and rewrite history. There is sexual tension with a Duke that Helen needs to help her. At first I wasn't sold on this book but I grew to like it the more I read it. There is a book two and I will read that one as well to see where this story continues.
November 15, 2017
Helen Foster Book 1 A Lady Out of Time
Great read, hard to e putting this book down. It had just the right amount of details without making you skip through them. The repartee between Helen and Edward was witty fun and made the poignant ending of this book truly bittersweet. Five stars!
Great read, hard to e putting this book down. It had just the right amount of details without making you skip through them. The repartee between Helen and Edward was witty fun and made the poignant ending of this book truly bittersweet. Five stars!
July 22, 2018
I usually enjoy time travel books. This one wasn't terrible but it really wasn't great either. There was a lot of lust talking that was really out of place. The plot wasn't terrible but because this is meant to be a series, it didn't go anywhere and the cliffhanger wasn't even that inviting. Not interested in reading more.
September 1, 2020
Wow just wow
I enjoyed this book a lot, its not a stand alone but it doesn't matter im getting gthe second one. I laughed so much and they only kissed once. Its that kind of book that really shows you what a good writer is, keeps you entertained from the beginning to end without unnecessary love scenes. Give the book a chance, you won't regret ir
I enjoyed this book a lot, its not a stand alone but it doesn't matter im getting gthe second one. I laughed so much and they only kissed once. Its that kind of book that really shows you what a good writer is, keeps you entertained from the beginning to end without unnecessary love scenes. Give the book a chance, you won't regret ir
February 5, 2017
Very sexy time travel story between a very modern, outspoken heroine and a very Victorian gentleman. Is this romance? In some interesting way yes, but actually it owes much more to action movies than Rosamunde Pilcher. I loved the dry humour of the book.
January 7, 2018
It's an interesting story. I really wish the writing style had been better. There were a lot of swear words, which I don't usually mind in the right context. But in this case, it was unnecessary and distracting. I'll probably read the next book though, just because I need to know how it ends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews