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When Time Matters #1
Stay With Me
Hurtled back in time from present-day Los Angeles to the Wyoming Territory in 1888, Sarah Jane Tremont seeks refuge with rugged cowboy John Beckett, a man who reluctantly agrees to help her despite a mysterious grudge he seems to hold against her. Original.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 4, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 6, 2025
The day the heroine quit her job was the day her entire life changed in the blink of an eye. Following footsteps on the beach she is suddenly thrown back in time to the land of cowboys. In nothing but her dress blouse and skirt, shoeless, she stumbles upon the first house she sees and in greeted by a handsome man with a very big gun.
Never in a million years did the hero expected to see this woman again. Hasn't she torn his family apart enough already? She drove his brother into killing himself but her high handed demands and wants. She devastated his mother but the betrayal. And she left him personally with hardly anything to his name or in his possession but the shirt on his back and his dog. Always he battled the guilt of desiring his brother’s wife but once she showed her true colours, the lust turned to hate and not, seeing her again, he is sick with disgust.
The heroine doesn't understand why this man hates her so much until she realizes that the body she now inhabits was quite the bitch apparently. Everything she does or says is meant with distain and a healthy dose of mistrust. It's clear he doesn't want her there but with the next train not arriving until the following Wednesday, she is stuck. But despite her anxiousness to return to her time and the tension laced between the hero and herself, she's determined to in some ways right the wrongs her former body wrought. She can't very well tell people she's from the future, so instead she works to improve people’s opinion of her, mainly the heroes.
She helps out around the farm without complaints or halfhearted attempts. She offers herself to the hero's best friend to watch the man’s children while he tends the fields. She befriends the local prostitute without prejudice.
The hero is so utterly confused by the complete about face this woman had done in regards to her personality. She smiles, she's eager to offer he help to those in need and she seems to generally care about other people. None of these things did she do before. It's turning his insides about as he wrestles with the debate between listening to his nature instincts to forgive and remain strong in regards to his hatred. The fight is hard and many times, he puts his foot in his mouth as he'll jump to conclusions and think the worse of her but as times goes on, he falls deeper and deeper in love with her. Suddenly the idea of her leaving on that train is devastating but no matter how he pleads her stay, she refuses. The heroine may be crying inside at the idea of leaving this man but her life waits for her in the future, how can she remain with a man she was never destined to meet? Or was she?
This was a great example of time travel done right. First off, it got right to the actual time travel as the heroine doesn't mess around too much in the present before the author sends her right back. Secondly, the heroine was resourceful and not afraid of hard work. She did her part and offered herself to those in need and excelled at bonding with people and creating lasting friendships. With everyone but the hero, she was easy going and the fact the things were so tense between her supposed brother in law and herself was because of his animosity towards the woman he thinks she is. Despite the cold welcome, she was devoted to him. She worried about him, cared for him when his hurts himself and calls upon him when she's in trouble. She knows she's not the woman he thinks she is but instead of trying to convince him she was not this woman, she instead took to the approach of changing his opinion of her. I loved this idea and it made the heroine a special kind of woman who could accept the blame for things she didn't do but strove for forgiveness for. I loved the dynamic of sexual tension mixed with confusion and a sense of forbidden between the main characters and it made their story very interesting. Their love was not easy and they had to fight for it but at heart, neither character was bitter or coldhearted. It was old pain and the fear of being hurt again that put the wall between them. I really liked this story and I could forgive the stupid modern terminology the heroine would toss out. Great book and one I highly recommend for fans of time travel mixed with sexy cowboys.
Never in a million years did the hero expected to see this woman again. Hasn't she torn his family apart enough already? She drove his brother into killing himself but her high handed demands and wants. She devastated his mother but the betrayal. And she left him personally with hardly anything to his name or in his possession but the shirt on his back and his dog. Always he battled the guilt of desiring his brother’s wife but once she showed her true colours, the lust turned to hate and not, seeing her again, he is sick with disgust.
The heroine doesn't understand why this man hates her so much until she realizes that the body she now inhabits was quite the bitch apparently. Everything she does or says is meant with distain and a healthy dose of mistrust. It's clear he doesn't want her there but with the next train not arriving until the following Wednesday, she is stuck. But despite her anxiousness to return to her time and the tension laced between the hero and herself, she's determined to in some ways right the wrongs her former body wrought. She can't very well tell people she's from the future, so instead she works to improve people’s opinion of her, mainly the heroes.
She helps out around the farm without complaints or halfhearted attempts. She offers herself to the hero's best friend to watch the man’s children while he tends the fields. She befriends the local prostitute without prejudice.
The hero is so utterly confused by the complete about face this woman had done in regards to her personality. She smiles, she's eager to offer he help to those in need and she seems to generally care about other people. None of these things did she do before. It's turning his insides about as he wrestles with the debate between listening to his nature instincts to forgive and remain strong in regards to his hatred. The fight is hard and many times, he puts his foot in his mouth as he'll jump to conclusions and think the worse of her but as times goes on, he falls deeper and deeper in love with her. Suddenly the idea of her leaving on that train is devastating but no matter how he pleads her stay, she refuses. The heroine may be crying inside at the idea of leaving this man but her life waits for her in the future, how can she remain with a man she was never destined to meet? Or was she?
This was a great example of time travel done right. First off, it got right to the actual time travel as the heroine doesn't mess around too much in the present before the author sends her right back. Secondly, the heroine was resourceful and not afraid of hard work. She did her part and offered herself to those in need and excelled at bonding with people and creating lasting friendships. With everyone but the hero, she was easy going and the fact the things were so tense between her supposed brother in law and herself was because of his animosity towards the woman he thinks she is. Despite the cold welcome, she was devoted to him. She worried about him, cared for him when his hurts himself and calls upon him when she's in trouble. She knows she's not the woman he thinks she is but instead of trying to convince him she was not this woman, she instead took to the approach of changing his opinion of her. I loved this idea and it made the heroine a special kind of woman who could accept the blame for things she didn't do but strove for forgiveness for. I loved the dynamic of sexual tension mixed with confusion and a sense of forbidden between the main characters and it made their story very interesting. Their love was not easy and they had to fight for it but at heart, neither character was bitter or coldhearted. It was old pain and the fear of being hurt again that put the wall between them. I really liked this story and I could forgive the stupid modern terminology the heroine would toss out. Great book and one I highly recommend for fans of time travel mixed with sexy cowboys.
July 26, 2019
Read this book more than i could remember. The H is a jerk, he deserve the grovelling.
I can’t believe that you almost had me fooled. Even after I saw with my own eyes how you ruined my brother’s life, I had almost convinced myself that you’d changed. But you’re the same selfish bitch that seduced my brother a year ago and now you’ve come back for Fred Goodie. God damn you, Sarah. I won’t let you do it.”
The stage goes tomorrow,” he said.
“You’re going to be on it.”
“Nothing to say, Sarah? Not going to try to talk your way out of this one? How much money will it take to get you to leave this time?”
Go back to where you came from, Sarah. You don’t belong here and all you do is cause heartache. Leave us.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said.
“You spent several hours in that hotel room, not with
Sarah, but with Suzanne. Where was Sarah during this?”
“Sleeping. On the steps. Before I left, I sat down with her for a few minutes. I wanted to thank her for taking such good care of Suzanne and for giving us some privacy. That’s how Turnip found us
“I had to tell you. I didn’t want Sarah to leave with you thinking bad of her.”
Sarah to leave?
The stage leaves tomorrow. You’re going to be on
it. You’re a selfish bitch. He’d all but run her out of town. She’d leave tomorrow and he’d never see her again.
I can’t believe that you almost had me fooled. Even after I saw with my own eyes how you ruined my brother’s life, I had almost convinced myself that you’d changed. But you’re the same selfish bitch that seduced my brother a year ago and now you’ve come back for Fred Goodie. God damn you, Sarah. I won’t let you do it.”
The stage goes tomorrow,” he said.
“You’re going to be on it.”
“Nothing to say, Sarah? Not going to try to talk your way out of this one? How much money will it take to get you to leave this time?”
Go back to where you came from, Sarah. You don’t belong here and all you do is cause heartache. Leave us.”
“Let me get this straight,” he said.
“You spent several hours in that hotel room, not with
Sarah, but with Suzanne. Where was Sarah during this?”
“Sleeping. On the steps. Before I left, I sat down with her for a few minutes. I wanted to thank her for taking such good care of Suzanne and for giving us some privacy. That’s how Turnip found us
“I had to tell you. I didn’t want Sarah to leave with you thinking bad of her.”
Sarah to leave?
The stage leaves tomorrow. You’re going to be on
it. You’re a selfish bitch. He’d all but run her out of town. She’d leave tomorrow and he’d never see her again.
September 20, 2020
Loved this book!! This was my 2nd time reading it.
February 14, 2015
Social worker Sarah Jane Tremont is burned out. She has just given her notice at her job and she doesn't have a new position lined up. She is walking on the beach in modern-times California when she is thrown back to 1888 Wyoming Territory.
'Sarah One' did a number on her husband and his brother. The husband is now dead and John Beckett, the brother, is angry. John and Sarah Jane meet when she stumbles upon him at his home. He thinks Sarah Jane is Sarah One and almost gives her the boot before the day is out.
There were highs and lows with this time travel romance. I thought Sarah Jane was level-headed even though I had a hard time understanding the issue of her needing to get back to 1990's California. Yes, she could still help someone there but so could others. She had no family to get back to and there were enough people with issues to solve during the old west.
Though John can't stand the person he believes is his deceased brother's wife, he falls in love with her quickly. I had a hard time connecting these two clashing personalities. They wanted each other, then they didn't.
There were several secondary stories with John's neighbor Fred, the woman he loved and his children. I was amazed that many of the other characters in this small town were so judgmental when they lacked good grace. The character 'Freedom' talking in the third person drove me nuts after awhile. OK, so I liked it and then I didn't, then I liked it and then I didn't. Wait a minute, I think the romance has rubbed off on me! It earned two stars for 'OK'.
'Sarah One' did a number on her husband and his brother. The husband is now dead and John Beckett, the brother, is angry. John and Sarah Jane meet when she stumbles upon him at his home. He thinks Sarah Jane is Sarah One and almost gives her the boot before the day is out.
There were highs and lows with this time travel romance. I thought Sarah Jane was level-headed even though I had a hard time understanding the issue of her needing to get back to 1990's California. Yes, she could still help someone there but so could others. She had no family to get back to and there were enough people with issues to solve during the old west.
Though John can't stand the person he believes is his deceased brother's wife, he falls in love with her quickly. I had a hard time connecting these two clashing personalities. They wanted each other, then they didn't.
There were several secondary stories with John's neighbor Fred, the woman he loved and his children. I was amazed that many of the other characters in this small town were so judgmental when they lacked good grace. The character 'Freedom' talking in the third person drove me nuts after awhile. OK, so I liked it and then I didn't, then I liked it and then I didn't. Wait a minute, I think the romance has rubbed off on me! It earned two stars for 'OK'.
May 12, 2015
Sarah Jane Tremont is tired of her job. She is a social worker and feels like she cannot help anyone at all. So she quit. She decides to take a walk on the beach and somehow she is zapped back into 1888. She is lost,knows that she's not in California anymore but manages to find a cabin for help. The man does not seem to want her there but he calls her by name. Weird.
It turns out that she looks like his not so nice sister-in-law named Sarah Beckett. John hates her with his entire being. He cares for her injuries but tells her she is going on the next stage out of town.
But as he gets to know Sarah he develops feelings for her. She seems different than the woman he knew before. She is kind and helps his best friend cares for his children. Sarah has feelings for John too.
Will they be a couple? Will Sarah get back to her right time?
I liked this story. I laughed when Sarah was using modern day language and the people misunderstood her!
It turns out that she looks like his not so nice sister-in-law named Sarah Beckett. John hates her with his entire being. He cares for her injuries but tells her she is going on the next stage out of town.
But as he gets to know Sarah he develops feelings for her. She seems different than the woman he knew before. She is kind and helps his best friend cares for his children. Sarah has feelings for John too.
Will they be a couple? Will Sarah get back to her right time?
I liked this story. I laughed when Sarah was using modern day language and the people misunderstood her!
May 16, 2013
3.5 Stars
Sarah Jane Tremont finds herself sucked into the past and she looks exactly like the horrible sister in law John Beckett never thought he'd see again.
Sarah ends up in Wyoming in the 1800's and finding her place in the past and dealing with massive bigot jerk offs from the small town ensue while Beckett figures out that he's falling in love with the "new" Sarah.
I am a sucker for time travel romances and I am starting to adore the 1800's as a fun place to go back to. I never thought I'd say a man from the 1800's is an ideal romance partner..but apparently so lol.
Sarah Jane Tremont finds herself sucked into the past and she looks exactly like the horrible sister in law John Beckett never thought he'd see again.
Sarah ends up in Wyoming in the 1800's and finding her place in the past and dealing with massive bigot jerk offs from the small town ensue while Beckett figures out that he's falling in love with the "new" Sarah.
I am a sucker for time travel romances and I am starting to adore the 1800's as a fun place to go back to. I never thought I'd say a man from the 1800's is an ideal romance partner..but apparently so lol.
June 30, 2008
Stay With Me was a lovely romance, with a likable hero and heroine. And also a nice secondary romance that almost rivals the main romance. I don't understand exactly why Sarah became the 'first' Sarah, and why she didn't just say that she's a different person entirely, but it doesn't matter much. I liked the reason why she was sent back and thought that was a nice touch. The story as a whole was very well executed and I can't wait to read the next. :)
July 17, 2008
My first time travel romance! I really enjoyed it. The culture clashes were good, the secondary romance was really well done as part of the larger main story, and Sarah and John were really fleshed out. The deaf additions were a nice touch. And I loved John!
March 10, 2011
My absolute favorite romance novel! I have read it so many times & each time I read it I fall more in love with John. A must read for anyone who enjoys a good time travel romance :)
August 9, 2014
Not as realistic as most time travel books (which are based in fact of course, wink).
But still an enjoyable afternoon read.
But still an enjoyable afternoon read.
March 20, 2013
If you enjoy something different check this out. In was looking for a time travel book when I came across this.
July 17, 2016
3.5 Stars. Good plot, decent time travel premise, likable characters. Glad I read it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews