Time and Time Again

by Dennis Danvers

While researching her new novel, which is based on a true event from eighteenth-century Virginia, author Marion Mead travels to her character's family home and begins a haunting and desperate love affair with the plantation's owner. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Blech. Read my friend Darlene's review and you'll know why I couldn't finish this. Moving on to better books....

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read took me a long, long time! The font was so small and the lines too close, so I had to take it a couple pages at a time.

Maybe it was the length of time it took me to read it that played into my occasional confusion as to whose head I was supposed to be in. I'll accept that reason but still, there were other places that I knew I wasn't confused. For a book that contains news of today, news of a century ago, a journal by Susanna, and a book being written by another woman, main character, Marion Mead... were all written by male author, Dennis Danvers.

Sorry, most of the time I didn't buy it. I believe Dennis Danvers tried. The writing was good and for the most part I loved the main character. But what was irritating for me were male traits imposed onto the Susanna and Marion.

For the last couple years, I have made it a habit to read books that could fall into the Bechdel test. My own addition, in the case of writing, is that the book be written and star a strong fem. The only reason for this read was this is a BookCrossing hardback that has been in my TBR pile for a too long.

Okay for the nitty-gritty. Susanna's journal was about the men in her life and how they interact with each other. It even went inside the males heads: this one likes to be plowed hard and fast--or something along those lines. Yeah. Most of the time, we prefer foreplay--please?

I know, this did include the mores of the past where women had no minds of their own as they belong to their fathers or husbands and other than that were old maids or whores. That probably made it easier to write from a woman's point of view. But even when we were in Marion's POV there was nothing but male-centric. Sure she had her daughters, and of course she looked like Mary Magdalene. Then finally we had a conversation between Marion and her co-worker, and even that was a conversation about sex with the male.

Oh, off the track a little, one of the reasons I wanted to read this from the beginning was I thought it was about time travel. Nope. Instead, it was more reincarnation. Hope that isn't a spoiler. But that was part of the well done parts.

Most people wouldn't notice the picky stuff I I saw. And so I think others will like it better than I did. It certainly was different.

By the way, this is BookCrossing BCID: 046-5591579. I will send it to other people of my group before setting it free.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the premise of this book is fascinating, and ignites the flames of imagination, the sluggishness of the narrative and the unsympathetic characters fail to excite the proper suspense or romance I feel like this had the potential to possess.

[Ciel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day.

I must’ve picked it up used. I then proceeded to read it repeatedly probably a total of four times. I then tossed it thinking I would never need to read it again.

Here it is 2024, and I am wishing I never threw it away. I came across some book notes I wrote in 1995 and found the title, found the book on Amazon and ordered it immediately.

I can’t speak to some of the other reviews, someone said the font was small in their book lol? Maybe they just need to get a pair of glasses or Read it at a different time. I read some other reviews as well, and can’t speak to them.

I just know that the three stories in this have well written characters that pulled me in. Love and obsession over time. Unfinished business. Reincarnation. I think it’s the unfinished business theme that got to me. Got under my skin and made me think. Because life is not linear but circular, always coming back on itself as we have the chance to learn new things. I found the book Quite romantic, with just enough edge to suit me, and provided just enough suspense without me needing to speed read it.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2009.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised by the story. It just took me away and I loved it. I found a "advanced reader's copy" and when I opened it and saw the "newspaper clipping", that started the story, I was very intrigued. Then I started the first chapter and really got interested. She worked at the Virginia Historical Society. I have been working on my family tree for years. Marion is a author and works here, but she gets her inspiration from here. This time it's an old newspaper story about a man wanting to find his runaway wife. The date is 1769. As Marion starts writing her novel she gets interested in the actual people in this newspaper. She can't seem to find out very much so she puts an ad out asking if anyone knew about this family. she gets a call from a man and he had information. She meets up at his plantation and the chemistry starts. It is a lovely story and I will read it again and again.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just picked this book up at a used book store and didn't expect a lot out of it. The premise of the book is stuff I love to explore but I was happily surprised at the depth and life of the characters. It does get a little confusing at times keeping up with which person is from which time as I found I was beginning to gloss on some of them - then again that could have been because I couldn't put the book down at night and I should have been sleeping!

Pick it up and read it - you won't regret it!