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Tempus Fugitives Trilogy #2
The Cairo Effect
Ella Stevens is a woman on the eve of her wedding when a frantic phone call from an old college pal sets her on a course that takes her away from the altar and away from any semblance of life as she knows it. Unfortunately, rescuing her friend means losing herself when she stumbles onto a time portal in Old Cairo that sends her back in time at the moment just before the greatest archaeological discovery of the age. Trying desperately to get back to her own time--and her fiance, a sexy US Marshal who, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t have all the patience in the world--Ella discovers that evil isn’t limited to any one timeline. With the startling discovery of the most precious treasure she will ever have, Ella risks her life to protect it while fighting to find her way back to her man.
430 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2013
114 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 13, 2013
A time travelling book that I sincerely enjoyed. This was the 2nd in the series and I picked it up easily despite not having read the 1st in the series. Likable characters with twisty plots and believable characters. An enjoyable fluff read, for sure!
August 8, 2022
3.5 stars.
I wasn’t keen on the first book at all and probably wouldn’t have read book 2 if I hadn’t already bought it but I’m glad I did as I enjoyed this one a lot more. Characters were better written and there was more depth to the story.
I wasn’t keen on the first book at all and probably wouldn’t have read book 2 if I hadn’t already bought it but I’m glad I did as I enjoyed this one a lot more. Characters were better written and there was more depth to the story.
November 6, 2016
The Cairo Effect (The Tempus Fugitives Trilogy, #2)
by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Meh.
First, a disclaimer. I got this book as either a freebie or as a 99-cent purchase. For me, it was a perfect example of you get what you pay for.
I read this on my Kindle, and the count was 54% when I stopped reading. This just wasn't for me. or one, I chose it based on two things: The title (mea culpa) and the indication that it was a time travel novel. As for the title, when I went to look up the author on Amazon, I find that not only the name of the series has changed, but also the name of each of the three books! This book is now called "Carried Away," and the series is referred to as "The Rowan and Ella Time Travel Adventure Series." Sheesh. I probably wouldn't have picked this particular up with that name, although the promise of time travel adventure might have lured me in. I haven't read the first or third in the series (the titles of each also having changed) and I will not now even consider it.
So, Rowan and Ella are time travelers. Not sure what got them to 16th century Germany in the first book, but in this book, Ella is an unwilling time traveler to 1922 Cairo and the camp of Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. Rowan, however, is a willing time traveler to the same spot, in search of Ella. Yada, yada -- nasty English viscount, naive and innocent but foolhardy heiress wife, too busy to be bothered archeologist, racially profiled Arabic characters, misogyny galore, idiocy and lots of bodice ripping ensue.
Yes, I hated it.
As far as the writing style, it was probably okayed. I can't comment too much, as I hated the whole thing so vehemently. There was certainly a lot of action. Characterizations were trite. As I only read half the book, I don't feel I can comment on the pacing or plotting. The proofing and editing were not particularly good. The author either knows a little bit about Egyptology, watches a lot of Discovery channel, or did a bit of research -- just not enough. The storyline bounces between 2013 and 1922.
My hates:
At 479: "Try to live together and keep alive the thing that made us love each other?" Is that supposed to be a sentence? It isn't.
At 532, the author suddenly refers to a character who has theretofore only been called Gagan as Gupta. It isn't until 575 that the reader discovers that Gagan is the character's first name and Gupta is his last name. (Sigh) And let's add that the character is Egyptian, although the name Gagan is Hindi, as is the character's last name, Gupta. Neither is considered Arabic.
At 555 the author describes men in Cairo in turbans and robes -- she populates her prose with Arabic words, so why wouldn't she say gallibeya instead of robes?
569 on my Kindle she mentions the (at least in the first half of the book) minor character Gagan speaks French, Farsi, and English. I'm assuming, as a native Egyptian, he probably also speaks Arabic, but that isn't stated. One would think it might be worded as "other than Arabic, Gagan speaks..." Okay. Even I know this is nit-picky.
At 1112, there is a discussion about a dress belonging to Julia that needs altering to fit Ella. It was unclear. It reads: "Lady Julia Digby shook out a long silk dress with a drop-waist that came to just above Ella's knees. Julia frowned and picked up the telephone to call the hotel concierge and have a seamstress sent up." Was the dress too long? Too short? I'm assuming it needed to be made longer, as women's hemlines were below the knee in the early 20s, but for as much as the author thought it important to indicate the altering of the dress in the first place, it might have been nice to somewhere -- maybe later as she was wearing the dress -- to have indicated how it was altered. Again, my nit-picky personal whine.
At 1451, a woman approaches Rowan in Cairo with the greeting "Wa 'aleyium 'as salam." Ah, no. The greeting is 'salaam alaikum' or 'peace be upon you,' (spelling vary with going from one alphabet to another -- that part didn't bother me) and the RESPONSE to the greeting is 'wa alaikum el salaam' (and upon you the peace). I've never seen or heard it done the other way around.
At 2425 the author has this: "...it was clear that providence had smiled upon Viscount Edward Digsby." Digsby? The name was Edward Digby. This is one of the major characters, whose name is mentioned again and again in the first half of the novel and the author misspells it? Where was her proofreader?
2709 has this jewel: "He ... he took me my surprise." Again, where was the proofreader? Just an aside, this is also a very disturbing piece of non-feminism, as the speaker is describing her delight in having been raped.
And finally, I stopped here, at 2807 on my Kindle, when Ella, the main character, who has just determined she is pregnant, indicates she is feeling morning sickness. She estimates she is about 4 1/2 months pregnant, and has not experienced morning sickness prior to this. Now, I know that morning sickness in pregnant women (having been a pregnant woman a couple of times in my life) is different in each woman. I've heard of women who never have morning sickness. I've heard of women who have it their entire pregnancy. But, I've never heard of a woman who first developed this particular symptom after the end of the first trimester.
So, did I like anything about this novel? I though it had an interesting time travel component. The method of time travel was poorly explained, however. Perhaps later in the book, the vehicle of the travel is better explained than just suddenly walking from one street to another and being in another time (Rowan) or being rendered unconcious and waking up in another time (Ella), but I wasn't sticking around to find out.
So, if you are a fan of old-style bodice rippers, have at it. Me? I'm moving on.
In any event, this extreme bodice-ripper read was just not for me.
by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
Meh.
First, a disclaimer. I got this book as either a freebie or as a 99-cent purchase. For me, it was a perfect example of you get what you pay for.
I read this on my Kindle, and the count was 54% when I stopped reading. This just wasn't for me. or one, I chose it based on two things: The title (mea culpa) and the indication that it was a time travel novel. As for the title, when I went to look up the author on Amazon, I find that not only the name of the series has changed, but also the name of each of the three books! This book is now called "Carried Away," and the series is referred to as "The Rowan and Ella Time Travel Adventure Series." Sheesh. I probably wouldn't have picked this particular up with that name, although the promise of time travel adventure might have lured me in. I haven't read the first or third in the series (the titles of each also having changed) and I will not now even consider it.
So, Rowan and Ella are time travelers. Not sure what got them to 16th century Germany in the first book, but in this book, Ella is an unwilling time traveler to 1922 Cairo and the camp of Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. Rowan, however, is a willing time traveler to the same spot, in search of Ella. Yada, yada -- nasty English viscount, naive and innocent but foolhardy heiress wife, too busy to be bothered archeologist, racially profiled Arabic characters, misogyny galore, idiocy and lots of bodice ripping ensue.
Yes, I hated it.
As far as the writing style, it was probably okayed. I can't comment too much, as I hated the whole thing so vehemently. There was certainly a lot of action. Characterizations were trite. As I only read half the book, I don't feel I can comment on the pacing or plotting. The proofing and editing were not particularly good. The author either knows a little bit about Egyptology, watches a lot of Discovery channel, or did a bit of research -- just not enough. The storyline bounces between 2013 and 1922.
My hates:
At 479: "Try to live together and keep alive the thing that made us love each other?" Is that supposed to be a sentence? It isn't.
At 532, the author suddenly refers to a character who has theretofore only been called Gagan as Gupta. It isn't until 575 that the reader discovers that Gagan is the character's first name and Gupta is his last name. (Sigh) And let's add that the character is Egyptian, although the name Gagan is Hindi, as is the character's last name, Gupta. Neither is considered Arabic.
At 555 the author describes men in Cairo in turbans and robes -- she populates her prose with Arabic words, so why wouldn't she say gallibeya instead of robes?
569 on my Kindle she mentions the (at least in the first half of the book) minor character Gagan speaks French, Farsi, and English. I'm assuming, as a native Egyptian, he probably also speaks Arabic, but that isn't stated. One would think it might be worded as "other than Arabic, Gagan speaks..." Okay. Even I know this is nit-picky.
At 1112, there is a discussion about a dress belonging to Julia that needs altering to fit Ella. It was unclear. It reads: "Lady Julia Digby shook out a long silk dress with a drop-waist that came to just above Ella's knees. Julia frowned and picked up the telephone to call the hotel concierge and have a seamstress sent up." Was the dress too long? Too short? I'm assuming it needed to be made longer, as women's hemlines were below the knee in the early 20s, but for as much as the author thought it important to indicate the altering of the dress in the first place, it might have been nice to somewhere -- maybe later as she was wearing the dress -- to have indicated how it was altered. Again, my nit-picky personal whine.
At 1451, a woman approaches Rowan in Cairo with the greeting "Wa 'aleyium 'as salam." Ah, no. The greeting is 'salaam alaikum' or 'peace be upon you,' (spelling vary with going from one alphabet to another -- that part didn't bother me) and the RESPONSE to the greeting is 'wa alaikum el salaam' (and upon you the peace). I've never seen or heard it done the other way around.
At 2425 the author has this: "...it was clear that providence had smiled upon Viscount Edward Digsby." Digsby? The name was Edward Digby. This is one of the major characters, whose name is mentioned again and again in the first half of the novel and the author misspells it? Where was her proofreader?
2709 has this jewel: "He ... he took me my surprise." Again, where was the proofreader? Just an aside, this is also a very disturbing piece of non-feminism, as the speaker is describing her delight in having been raped.
And finally, I stopped here, at 2807 on my Kindle, when Ella, the main character, who has just determined she is pregnant, indicates she is feeling morning sickness. She estimates she is about 4 1/2 months pregnant, and has not experienced morning sickness prior to this. Now, I know that morning sickness in pregnant women (having been a pregnant woman a couple of times in my life) is different in each woman. I've heard of women who never have morning sickness. I've heard of women who have it their entire pregnancy. But, I've never heard of a woman who first developed this particular symptom after the end of the first trimester.
So, did I like anything about this novel? I though it had an interesting time travel component. The method of time travel was poorly explained, however. Perhaps later in the book, the vehicle of the travel is better explained than just suddenly walking from one street to another and being in another time (Rowan) or being rendered unconcious and waking up in another time (Ella), but I wasn't sticking around to find out.
So, if you are a fan of old-style bodice rippers, have at it. Me? I'm moving on.
In any event, this extreme bodice-ripper read was just not for me.
May 18, 2020
Ella Stevens goes to Cairo, Egypt a few days before her wedding to Rowan Pierce t0 rescue her friend who is engaged to an Egyptian. After sending her friend to America, she unwittingly goes back to Cairo in 1922 where Howard Carter is trying to find the tomb of King Tut. Rowan goes back to 1922 to find Ella & bring her home to Dothan, AL. They undergo many escapades before going back tp 2013.
October 16, 2018
Awesome book!!
One of the very best books l have read. The suspense and excitement is awesome. I am looking forward to reading the entire series. I couldn't recommend a better series to read. I just couldn't put it down. Once you start reading you are truly hooked.
One of the very best books l have read. The suspense and excitement is awesome. I am looking forward to reading the entire series. I couldn't recommend a better series to read. I just couldn't put it down. Once you start reading you are truly hooked.
November 19, 2024
Excellent
The action in this book was so good that I could barely put it down. I loved it! Can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series.
The action in this book was so good that I could barely put it down. I loved it! Can't wait to read the 3rd book in the series.
March 1, 2015
I don't generally like time travel book but Ella and Rowan are accidental time travelers. This is the second book in a series and you don't need to have read the first there are plenty of references to their earlier adventure
The story starts off with Ella's future M-I-L calling her selfish for taking the last biscuit (off topic you read too much British fiction when you think they mean cookie and have to catch up). As Rowan's Mom tries her best to sabotage the wedding, Ella realizes that her 2013 relationship isn't as fulfilling as her time travel adventures.
When a friend needs rescuing from Cairo Ella is off like a shot, even thought it means she will miss her own wedding. There she slips through time and ends up in 1922. Rescued by a member of the British gentry she is quickly in her way to the valley of the Kings to join Howard Carter.
Ella is in danger or prisoner for most of the book and there is a great deal of violence and attempted violence toward women which may be upsetting to some readers. Rowan arrives in 1922 and faces numerous challenges to find Ella. He spends time with Howard Carter and helps point him in the right direction to find King Tut's tomb.
When Ella and Rowan are finally reunited they learn they can't return to the present for a few years and will be living in 1920's Egypt.
The story starts off with Ella's future M-I-L calling her selfish for taking the last biscuit (off topic you read too much British fiction when you think they mean cookie and have to catch up). As Rowan's Mom tries her best to sabotage the wedding, Ella realizes that her 2013 relationship isn't as fulfilling as her time travel adventures.
When a friend needs rescuing from Cairo Ella is off like a shot, even thought it means she will miss her own wedding. There she slips through time and ends up in 1922. Rescued by a member of the British gentry she is quickly in her way to the valley of the Kings to join Howard Carter.
Ella is in danger or prisoner for most of the book and there is a great deal of violence and attempted violence toward women which may be upsetting to some readers. Rowan arrives in 1922 and faces numerous challenges to find Ella. He spends time with Howard Carter and helps point him in the right direction to find King Tut's tomb.
When Ella and Rowan are finally reunited they learn they can't return to the present for a few years and will be living in 1920's Egypt.
April 4, 2014
AMAZING!!!
Fantastic book!! I read The Heidelberg Effect this afternoon, and I loved it so much that I bought The Cairo Effect immediately after. I couldn't stop reading because these stories are so GREAT!!! I just finished this second book of the trilogy (it's now 5 a.m. the next morning).... I'm exhausted but I didn't want to wait to write this review... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this storyline.. This book really pulled at my heartstrings!! I was crying at one point and then cheering Ella on at the next.
Fantastic book!! I read The Heidelberg Effect this afternoon, and I loved it so much that I bought The Cairo Effect immediately after. I couldn't stop reading because these stories are so GREAT!!! I just finished this second book of the trilogy (it's now 5 a.m. the next morning).... I'm exhausted but I didn't want to wait to write this review... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this storyline.. This book really pulled at my heartstrings!! I was crying at one point and then cheering Ella on at the next.
September 27, 2013
I won't say this was a bad book, but it wasn't great either. Everything felt forced in it. There wasn't a natural flow to the story. Rowan and Ella both were pretty shallow characters, so couldn't really identify with them.
October 11, 2014
“The Cairo Effect” is an engaging take on time travel and historical discoveries. The historical facts are accurate and interesting.
Read full review in the 2014 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 October issue of InD’tale Magazine.
January 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the Cairo setting and the time travel experience. At times it was harsh with the time and place of the setting, but easy to imagine and I appreciated it. The ending was a surprise. It was mystical and a good read!
September 17, 2013
not bad. worth reading once although the heroine did annoy me a few times being stupid.
January 30, 2014
This book is so good. I really enjoyed the story line. I would recommend that everyone purchase this book and read it.
January 5, 2015
love this book really good read
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews