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Time Lost
In 1953, a mother's routine drive home is transformed into a time-travel odyssey, when the light from a mysterious spacecraft hurls her and her car to 2023, setting in motion a series of extraordinary events and a life-and-death decision.On a serene night in 1953, Sally Mason, a dedicated wife and mother of two, drives a twisting road on her way home from night school. Suddenly, a mysterious bluish-white light descends over the road.
Terrified, Sally slams on the brakes. After a flash of bright light nearly blinds her, she passes out, awakening to the persistent knock of a police officer on her car window. When she sees the officer and remembers her frightening experience, she screams and faints, and is rushed to the hospital.
What Sally does not know, and what the police eventually and reluctantly conclude, is that Sally and her car have been hurled ahead in time from 1953 to 2023.
Driven by the urgency to reunite with her children, Sally is forced to confront the reason for her time leap journey, and to grapple with a life-and-death decision.
Terrified, Sally slams on the brakes. After a flash of bright light nearly blinds her, she passes out, awakening to the persistent knock of a police officer on her car window. When she sees the officer and remembers her frightening experience, she screams and faints, and is rushed to the hospital.
What Sally does not know, and what the police eventually and reluctantly conclude, is that Sally and her car have been hurled ahead in time from 1953 to 2023.
Driven by the urgency to reunite with her children, Sally is forced to confront the reason for her time leap journey, and to grapple with a life-and-death decision.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2024
782 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
About the author
Elyse Douglas
44 books336 followersElyse Douglas is the pen name for the husband and wife writing team of Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse began writing poems and short stories at an early age and graduated with a Master's Degree in English Literature. Douglas grew up in a family of musicians, astrologers, and avid readers. Some of Elyse Douglas' novels include: "Time Change," The Summer Letters," "Daring Summer," The Christmas Eve Series" and "Time Stranger." They reside in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
August 28, 2025
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GET BACK TO YOUR KIDS? WHAT WOULDN'T YOU DO?
☆☆☆☆☆
Time Lost: A Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas is more than a time travel novel. It's a story of a mother who is taken from her life in 1953 and teleported to 2015. Sally, a young mother of two children, is in a new and strange world even though it's the same town but that's just about all that's the same.
Sally wakes up in 2015 and finds herself in the hospital with no clue what's going on. The worst part is that no one else really knows what's going on. All Sally wants to do is get back to her young children at any cost even if taking the chance to possibly return to her children might cost her her life.
This is the first book that I have read by Elyse and Douglas and it quickly became obvious to me that it will not be the last book of theirs I read.
The characters and the storyline is well-written, suspenseful, intriguing, and powerfully emotional as Sally deals with the unknowns of being in a very strange new environment with no friends and no loved ones. Everything from the vehicles, the architecture of the town she grew up in has changed, and the technology is mind-blowing to say the least.
With no one letting her leave the hospital, which after a few days feels more like a prison than a healthcare facility. The doctors and the police are at a loss even though they are pretty sure they have determined Sally is who she claims to be and she is truly the same person who disappeared back in 1953 but for her safety, they can't let her leave.
Sally fines help in an elderly man and even less likely a clandestine group within the CIA specializing in extraterrestrials and covering up their existence.
This is a very enjoyable and touching story for all ages and you will find yourself hooked from the very beginning to the end. There are twists and turns that will blow your mind, and the ending will leave you with hope and happiness.
I am confident you will truly enjoy this book.
Quotes:
"Glory is for suckers."
"You're a little nuts, and nuts can help nuts."
☆☆☆☆☆
Time Lost: A Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas is more than a time travel novel. It's a story of a mother who is taken from her life in 1953 and teleported to 2015. Sally, a young mother of two children, is in a new and strange world even though it's the same town but that's just about all that's the same.
Sally wakes up in 2015 and finds herself in the hospital with no clue what's going on. The worst part is that no one else really knows what's going on. All Sally wants to do is get back to her young children at any cost even if taking the chance to possibly return to her children might cost her her life.
This is the first book that I have read by Elyse and Douglas and it quickly became obvious to me that it will not be the last book of theirs I read.
The characters and the storyline is well-written, suspenseful, intriguing, and powerfully emotional as Sally deals with the unknowns of being in a very strange new environment with no friends and no loved ones. Everything from the vehicles, the architecture of the town she grew up in has changed, and the technology is mind-blowing to say the least.
With no one letting her leave the hospital, which after a few days feels more like a prison than a healthcare facility. The doctors and the police are at a loss even though they are pretty sure they have determined Sally is who she claims to be and she is truly the same person who disappeared back in 1953 but for her safety, they can't let her leave.
Sally fines help in an elderly man and even less likely a clandestine group within the CIA specializing in extraterrestrials and covering up their existence.
This is a very enjoyable and touching story for all ages and you will find yourself hooked from the very beginning to the end. There are twists and turns that will blow your mind, and the ending will leave you with hope and happiness.
I am confident you will truly enjoy this book.
Quotes:
"Glory is for suckers."
"You're a little nuts, and nuts can help nuts."
June 12, 2025
Does anyone remember that Sci-Fi show that first aired in 2004 called the 4400? The plot, briefly, involves what appears to be a comet, but instead of plowing into the ground, it slows, stops, and then spits out 4400 people that were presumed missing or dead over the past 50 years but were really abducted. What follows is trying to get these people (some missing for only a year or two, others from literally half a century before) adjusted to modern life. Later, we find out these people all had mysterious powers supposedly designed to help humanity avoid some terrible world-ending disaster.
I was obsessed with that show back in the day.
That last bit about the powers aside, the beginning of this is straight out of that TV show. So naturally, I was primed to enjoy the crap out of this book.
And I did, even if it didn't quite go the way I expected it to. Spoilers, maybe, from here on out.
Sally's journey 70 years into the future fundamentally shifts her perspectives. We're treated to a bit of a feminist revelation as Sally comes to terms with the fact that her little life with her husband Ronnie isn't what she wants for herself. She recognizes his abusive controlling nature for what it is having been given literal time and space distance in order to reevaluate her situation.
In 2023, Sally goes on a bit of a road trip with a kindly older artist and gentleman to try and find her adult son. In Florida, she encounters a man who agrees to conjure up fake identification documents if she'll marry him, and she asks him if he has the ability to find out about her kids and the lives they led. Once she learns that their lives were somewhat troubled following her disappearance, she rejects the proposal (which was shady, let's be honest) and finally meets up with representatives from the CIA.
Ultimately, Sally's given the choice to stay in 2023 and build a new life, or to return to 1953 and be with her kids and everyone and everything she knows. She chooses to return for the sake of her children. She doesn't return to 1953, but 1955. Her husband Ronnie's already remarried with a baby on the way, but that's just fine by Sally, who isn't the same woman who left 1953 behind.
Returned to a time she knows, but free from the oppressive marriage she didn't want, she goes after and gets her dream job, changing the course of history in the process by becoming a famous and well-respected journalist. She also gets a chance a real and true love, too, which is super cute.
And, this is the real story, buried under secret government agencies, aliens, time-travel phenomena and even a little romance. It's about a woman finding herself, and the gaining strength to follow her dreams.
The book wasn't perfect, and I think it took a bit too long to get to the point sometimes. I also think the book could have done a better job of showing Sally's disorientation and unfamiliarity with a lot of the modern conveniences she encounters. She takes to the new and strange shockingly well after she leaves the hospital, with only a couple of moments where the author idly informs us that she thinks technology is weird and magical and maybe a little scary.
Still, I really liked how the story tied itself up. With the people Sally meets and made friends with in 2023 still being in her life as she got older. This story maybe wasn't quite what I was anticipating, but it certainly satisfied.
I was obsessed with that show back in the day.
That last bit about the powers aside, the beginning of this is straight out of that TV show. So naturally, I was primed to enjoy the crap out of this book.
And I did, even if it didn't quite go the way I expected it to. Spoilers, maybe, from here on out.
Sally's journey 70 years into the future fundamentally shifts her perspectives. We're treated to a bit of a feminist revelation as Sally comes to terms with the fact that her little life with her husband Ronnie isn't what she wants for herself. She recognizes his abusive controlling nature for what it is having been given literal time and space distance in order to reevaluate her situation.
In 2023, Sally goes on a bit of a road trip with a kindly older artist and gentleman to try and find her adult son. In Florida, she encounters a man who agrees to conjure up fake identification documents if she'll marry him, and she asks him if he has the ability to find out about her kids and the lives they led. Once she learns that their lives were somewhat troubled following her disappearance, she rejects the proposal (which was shady, let's be honest) and finally meets up with representatives from the CIA.
Ultimately, Sally's given the choice to stay in 2023 and build a new life, or to return to 1953 and be with her kids and everyone and everything she knows. She chooses to return for the sake of her children. She doesn't return to 1953, but 1955. Her husband Ronnie's already remarried with a baby on the way, but that's just fine by Sally, who isn't the same woman who left 1953 behind.
Returned to a time she knows, but free from the oppressive marriage she didn't want, she goes after and gets her dream job, changing the course of history in the process by becoming a famous and well-respected journalist. She also gets a chance a real and true love, too, which is super cute.
And, this is the real story, buried under secret government agencies, aliens, time-travel phenomena and even a little romance. It's about a woman finding herself, and the gaining strength to follow her dreams.
The book wasn't perfect, and I think it took a bit too long to get to the point sometimes. I also think the book could have done a better job of showing Sally's disorientation and unfamiliarity with a lot of the modern conveniences she encounters. She takes to the new and strange shockingly well after she leaves the hospital, with only a couple of moments where the author idly informs us that she thinks technology is weird and magical and maybe a little scary.
Still, I really liked how the story tied itself up. With the people Sally meets and made friends with in 2023 still being in her life as she got older. This story maybe wasn't quite what I was anticipating, but it certainly satisfied.
May 26, 2024
Great time travel book. Really liked Sally and the happy ending. Will read more of this author's time travel books. She is a good writer. And the book was well edited.
April 8, 2024
4.5 stars
I'll admit, time travel is my favourite and it would be difficult to find a time travel book I would not enjoy. That being said, this was a gripping read and different from others I have read. The time travel being instigated by aliens added an extra dimension to this story as did the choice Sally had to make. Sally really grabbed your heart and made you care about her past/future. All the characters were well written and well rounded, making you interested in them all.
A wonderful story. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's time travel novels.
I'll admit, time travel is my favourite and it would be difficult to find a time travel book I would not enjoy. That being said, this was a gripping read and different from others I have read. The time travel being instigated by aliens added an extra dimension to this story as did the choice Sally had to make. Sally really grabbed your heart and made you care about her past/future. All the characters were well written and well rounded, making you interested in them all.
A wonderful story. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's time travel novels.
November 15, 2024
This is the first work I’ve read by Elyse Douglas and I find it both enchanting and delightful. It’s also one of the few time-travel narratives I’ve ever read that seems to accurately account for the trauma and shock a person might deal with if truly catapulted through time.
Elyse Douglas paints a heartfelt and humanly complex character in the main character, Sally Mason. As a reader, I felt that the twists and turns in the narrative were true to form, and anticipated my own questions, concerns and hopes as an involuntary time travel. The cultural and societal differences between 1953 and 2023 were all touched on in just the right ways.
I have the added benefit of just having come off of viewing Netflix’s 2020 3 season series, “Dark”, which is a good watch for a time-travel fan-and although it does share in common a the psychology thread, it’s much more cynical (in general) than Ms. Douglas’s work here. Ms. Douglas writes from the heart (and that’s often best!) She writes with a clearly feminine style, but it’s broad enough to become endearing to anyone who reads it. In turn, I heartily recommend this as heartwarming voyage for anyone, time-travelled or not.
Elyse Douglas paints a heartfelt and humanly complex character in the main character, Sally Mason. As a reader, I felt that the twists and turns in the narrative were true to form, and anticipated my own questions, concerns and hopes as an involuntary time travel. The cultural and societal differences between 1953 and 2023 were all touched on in just the right ways.
I have the added benefit of just having come off of viewing Netflix’s 2020 3 season series, “Dark”, which is a good watch for a time-travel fan-and although it does share in common a the psychology thread, it’s much more cynical (in general) than Ms. Douglas’s work here. Ms. Douglas writes from the heart (and that’s often best!) She writes with a clearly feminine style, but it’s broad enough to become endearing to anyone who reads it. In turn, I heartily recommend this as heartwarming voyage for anyone, time-travelled or not.
March 17, 2024
Lovely story
Lovely little story, a first time read from this author. Sally time travels from 1953 forward to 2023. Meeting the lovely kind bert, who helps her in her new world. Well worth a read.
Lovely little story, a first time read from this author. Sally time travels from 1953 forward to 2023. Meeting the lovely kind bert, who helps her in her new world. Well worth a read.
Read
July 14, 2024Seems like an interesting premise. I felt the writing was a bit too formal, as in kinda stilted and 3rd person as if it was written by a reporter. Just not being pulled in enough by chapter 3, so I am going to put it down and move on.
July 19, 2025
a good story with a lovely ending
Time travel, UFO’s, and a conscious Universe are my three favorite subjects to ponder. The fact that they’re wrapped up in a straightforward story that isn’t foreboding with ideas of war and dystopian scenarios made this an absolute treat to read. As a plus, it also includes some real time facts of disclosure that are happening in today’s world. Nice!
Quick synopsis: Susan, a young mother of two who’s married to an abusive husband in 1953 is unexpectedly catapulted into the year 2023 when she encounters a space ship on a deserted highway on her way home from a stenography class at the local high school. The Sheriff and his team who find her slumped behind the wheel on the side of the road don’t know what to do about her story. Yet the facts and evidence add up. They pull in a psychiatrist to evaluate the situation and do their best to keep this under wraps. But secrets are hard to keep and soon the CIA wants into the picture, too. Meanwhile, the only thing Sally wants is to see her children again.
In many ways, this story quietly normalizes the ideas of alien visitation, psychic telepathy, remote viewing, and a gentler more humane side of secret government programs. I found this book in my Kindle Unlimited offerings. The synchronicity is much appreciated. The ending is lovely.
Time travel, UFO’s, and a conscious Universe are my three favorite subjects to ponder. The fact that they’re wrapped up in a straightforward story that isn’t foreboding with ideas of war and dystopian scenarios made this an absolute treat to read. As a plus, it also includes some real time facts of disclosure that are happening in today’s world. Nice!
Quick synopsis: Susan, a young mother of two who’s married to an abusive husband in 1953 is unexpectedly catapulted into the year 2023 when she encounters a space ship on a deserted highway on her way home from a stenography class at the local high school. The Sheriff and his team who find her slumped behind the wheel on the side of the road don’t know what to do about her story. Yet the facts and evidence add up. They pull in a psychiatrist to evaluate the situation and do their best to keep this under wraps. But secrets are hard to keep and soon the CIA wants into the picture, too. Meanwhile, the only thing Sally wants is to see her children again.
In many ways, this story quietly normalizes the ideas of alien visitation, psychic telepathy, remote viewing, and a gentler more humane side of secret government programs. I found this book in my Kindle Unlimited offerings. The synchronicity is much appreciated. The ending is lovely.
October 2, 2024
Remarkably sweet UFO tale
Elyse Douglas has written a tale of UFO abduction unlike any I’ve read, starting with the fact that the alien didn’t so much abduct the protagonist as simply move her in time, from the 1950s to the present day.
The culture shock she goes through, from a time when phones had rotary dials and televisions were mostly black and white and received four stations, to cell phones and the internet, was certainly a part of what affected her, but far worse was the loss of her young children, left behind 70 years ago. Oh, and another issue— the CIA was very interested in picking her up.
The story has some distracting flaws, though. The author apparently knows very little about how police departments work; she has an Indiana sheriff working under a small town police chief. In reality, sheriffs are elected law enforcement officers in charge of a county’s sheriff’s department. A police chief heads a town or city police department. The two departments are completely separate. A good deal of the opening chapters have the sheriff as a kind of department head under the chief of police.
Elyse Douglas has written a tale of UFO abduction unlike any I’ve read, starting with the fact that the alien didn’t so much abduct the protagonist as simply move her in time, from the 1950s to the present day.
The culture shock she goes through, from a time when phones had rotary dials and televisions were mostly black and white and received four stations, to cell phones and the internet, was certainly a part of what affected her, but far worse was the loss of her young children, left behind 70 years ago. Oh, and another issue— the CIA was very interested in picking her up.
The story has some distracting flaws, though. The author apparently knows very little about how police departments work; she has an Indiana sheriff working under a small town police chief. In reality, sheriffs are elected law enforcement officers in charge of a county’s sheriff’s department. A police chief heads a town or city police department. The two departments are completely separate. A good deal of the opening chapters have the sheriff as a kind of department head under the chief of police.
November 16, 2024
The novel starts out interesting as a woman in 1953 named Sally Mason is mysteriously transported to 2023. But for several chapters, readers learn more about the people investigating her appearance than about Sally and how she feels about what’s happening to her.
Some strange things happen in this book and at one point I felt like the author could not decide is she wanted it to be about time travel or aliens visiting earth. The plot seemed a bit convoluted at times, and I was thinking I would only give it 3 stars.
But once it began focusing more on Sally and her new ally in 2023, things became more interesting. It was fun to see Sally grow from a typical 1953 housewife to a woman who appreciated the opportunities that she might have if she remained in 2023.
Later in the novel, it was a bit annoying when a few new minor characters were introduced. This seemed unnecessary and a distraction from the main plot and characters.
The ending was intriguing, particularly a fun plot twist. I listened to the audio of this novel and the narrator was good.
Some strange things happen in this book and at one point I felt like the author could not decide is she wanted it to be about time travel or aliens visiting earth. The plot seemed a bit convoluted at times, and I was thinking I would only give it 3 stars.
But once it began focusing more on Sally and her new ally in 2023, things became more interesting. It was fun to see Sally grow from a typical 1953 housewife to a woman who appreciated the opportunities that she might have if she remained in 2023.
Later in the novel, it was a bit annoying when a few new minor characters were introduced. This seemed unnecessary and a distraction from the main plot and characters.
The ending was intriguing, particularly a fun plot twist. I listened to the audio of this novel and the narrator was good.
March 12, 2024
a beautiful story.
I wish I could write like Elyse because then I could write a review that gives this book justice. All I can manage is: I enjoyed the book immensely. It’s been a while since I have read a book with such a good plot, heart warming through and most of all absent any villains.
I wish I could write like Elyse because then I could write a review that gives this book justice. All I can manage is: I enjoyed the book immensely. It’s been a while since I have read a book with such a good plot, heart warming through and most of all absent any villains.
January 16, 2025
If you take it at face value it is a simple and enjoyable story. But if you want a proper time travel book don't read this as there are too many glaring mistakes particularly about the things somebody from 1953 wouldn't be able to comprehend about 2023
April 10, 2024
Fun time travel book with the added bonus of aliens. Nothing life changing, just a fun fast read.
January 21, 2025
3.9 Stars
I'm deducting 0.1 Stars because there was one little tiny behavior thing that made me think wtf. Am I too picky today? Otherwise interesting, fun, heart-string plucking read.
I'm deducting 0.1 Stars because there was one little tiny behavior thing that made me think wtf. Am I too picky today? Otherwise interesting, fun, heart-string plucking read.
September 3, 2025
such a good book
This is the best book I have read in a very long time. I loved everything about it. It was so hard to put down and I absolutely loved the ending.
This is the best book I have read in a very long time. I loved everything about it. It was so hard to put down and I absolutely loved the ending.
September 6, 2025
I regretted each night when I had to put the book down and sleep.
February 21, 2025
Good book
September 26, 2025
On a serene night in 1953, Sally Mason, a dedicated wife and mother of two, drives a twisting road on her way home from night school. Suddenly, a mysterious bluish-white light descends over the road.
Terrified, Sally slams on the brakes. After a flash of bright light nearly blinds her, she passes out, awakening to the persistent knock of a police officer on her car window. When she sees the officer and remembers her frightening experience, she screams and faints, and is rushed to the hospital.
What Sally does not know, and what the police eventually and reluctantly conclude, is that Sally and her car have been hurled ahead in time from 1953 to 2023.
Driven by the urgency to reunite with her children, Sally is forced to confront the reason for her time leap journey, and to grapple with a life-and-death decision.
Terrified, Sally slams on the brakes. After a flash of bright light nearly blinds her, she passes out, awakening to the persistent knock of a police officer on her car window. When she sees the officer and remembers her frightening experience, she screams and faints, and is rushed to the hospital.
What Sally does not know, and what the police eventually and reluctantly conclude, is that Sally and her car have been hurled ahead in time from 1953 to 2023.
Driven by the urgency to reunite with her children, Sally is forced to confront the reason for her time leap journey, and to grapple with a life-and-death decision.
March 5, 2025
Couldn’t finish. Unbelievable dialogue, insufferable main character. I love a good time travel story too , but this wasn’t it.
March 13, 2024
Great Book
I do enjoy time travel books and each time I read Elyse Douglas they get better each time! This one her newest was her best I believe, once you started reading it was not easy to stop! I do recommend the reading of this book and all of Elyse Douglas books!!
I do enjoy time travel books and each time I read Elyse Douglas they get better each time! This one her newest was her best I believe, once you started reading it was not easy to stop! I do recommend the reading of this book and all of Elyse Douglas books!!
October 9, 2024
10/09/2024
I'm going to listen to my gut on this one. What I've read so far (10%) isn't terrible, but there are a couple of nagging problems that I've encountered, and I can't help but feel that I'm going to regret continuing. It's obvious that this is a self-published book that didn't have an experienced editor's help. I've read (started) too many books like this to know that they don't get better.
Problem 1: The author doesn't know the purpose of a prologue. Remember watching (say) crime shows in the 70's? "On tonight's Columbo..." and then they'd show no small chunk of the action before the show itself even started. That's what the prologue was like, except that it wasn't presented as a disposable, optional read. The first 3 chapters started over and expanded (not extended) the prologue including identical phrases.
Problem 2: I'll admit that I might be wrong about this, but I did a little research on Wikipedia just for a gut check and it backed me up. In the US (where this book is set), one doesn't get "promoted to the rank of Sheriff". True, they're not all elected (some are appointed), but in all cases, they're still the head of the law enforcement department. This "Sheriff" still reported to a Chief of Police.
Irritation 1: I get that marriages and gender roles in the 50's were viewed differently than today, but that doesn't mean that I have to be happy with Sally just off-handedly saying that her husband is good to her and the kids even if he has to hit her sometimes. (No worries, I have my snowflake pin stuck securely on my sleeve.)
So I'm going to bail at 10% and just avoid this author in the future - I've got way too many other books vying for my attention.
I'm going to listen to my gut on this one. What I've read so far (10%) isn't terrible, but there are a couple of nagging problems that I've encountered, and I can't help but feel that I'm going to regret continuing. It's obvious that this is a self-published book that didn't have an experienced editor's help. I've read (started) too many books like this to know that they don't get better.
Problem 1: The author doesn't know the purpose of a prologue. Remember watching (say) crime shows in the 70's? "On tonight's Columbo..." and then they'd show no small chunk of the action before the show itself even started. That's what the prologue was like, except that it wasn't presented as a disposable, optional read. The first 3 chapters started over and expanded (not extended) the prologue including identical phrases.
Problem 2: I'll admit that I might be wrong about this, but I did a little research on Wikipedia just for a gut check and it backed me up. In the US (where this book is set), one doesn't get "promoted to the rank of Sheriff". True, they're not all elected (some are appointed), but in all cases, they're still the head of the law enforcement department. This "Sheriff" still reported to a Chief of Police.
Irritation 1: I get that marriages and gender roles in the 50's were viewed differently than today, but that doesn't mean that I have to be happy with Sally just off-handedly saying that her husband is good to her and the kids even if he has to hit her sometimes. (No worries, I have my snowflake pin stuck securely on my sleeve.)
So I'm going to bail at 10% and just avoid this author in the future - I've got way too many other books vying for my attention.
March 14, 2025
Elyse Douglas's "Time Lost" is a masterclass in character development and atmospheric storytelling. From the very first page, I was drawn into the lives of the characters, feeling their joys, sorrows, and anxieties as if they were my own. Douglas's attention to detail is remarkable; she paints vivid pictures with her words, immersing you completely in the world she's created. The descriptive passages are rich and evocative, making the story truly come alive.
It's important to note that while the title and some initial hints might suggest a science fiction narrative, "Time Lost" is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. This is not a criticism, but rather a clarification for potential readers. If you're expecting spaceships and futuristic gadgets, you won't find them here. Instead, you'll discover a deeply emotional and enchanting tale that explores the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of love across time.
The book is filled with intriguing twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. While I appreciated the intricate plot and the unexpected revelations, I must admit that the ending left me slightly disappointed. I had hoped for a different resolution, perhaps one that offered a touch more closure. However, even with this minor quibble, I cannot deny the sheer brilliance of the storytelling.
"Time Lost" is a book that stays with you long after you've turned the final page. It's a testament to Elyse Douglas's talent for creating compelling characters and weaving a captivating narrative. If you're a fan of fantasy stories that delve into the depths of human emotion, I highly recommend this book. Despite my personal preferences for the ending, it is undoubtedly a 5-star read.
It's important to note that while the title and some initial hints might suggest a science fiction narrative, "Time Lost" is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. This is not a criticism, but rather a clarification for potential readers. If you're expecting spaceships and futuristic gadgets, you won't find them here. Instead, you'll discover a deeply emotional and enchanting tale that explores the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of love across time.
The book is filled with intriguing twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. While I appreciated the intricate plot and the unexpected revelations, I must admit that the ending left me slightly disappointed. I had hoped for a different resolution, perhaps one that offered a touch more closure. However, even with this minor quibble, I cannot deny the sheer brilliance of the storytelling.
"Time Lost" is a book that stays with you long after you've turned the final page. It's a testament to Elyse Douglas's talent for creating compelling characters and weaving a captivating narrative. If you're a fan of fantasy stories that delve into the depths of human emotion, I highly recommend this book. Despite my personal preferences for the ending, it is undoubtedly a 5-star read.
December 16, 2024
The premise of this novel is an intriguing one and unlike so many books with equally fascinating ideas, Douglas fulfills the promise of her premise. In 1953, Sally Mason is driving home from a shorthand class that her abusive husband forbid her to take when she has an encounter with a UFO. For Sally, the next seventy years pass in the blink of an eye. When she next regains consciousness, she is in the same car on the same road, seventy years in the future.
The novel then enters its best as a smalltown police department tries to come to grips with what happened to Sally and to figure out a way to help her. They gather a ton of very well thought out evidence that her story is true—she has been lifted out of the past and stuck into their present for reasons she does not understand. Tensions rise when the federal government becomes aware of the situation, leading to Sally effectively “going on the run” so that she will have a chance to find her children—both of whom are now senior citizens.
I want to be careful about giving too much of the plot away. I will settle for saying that I foresaw a number of ways that Douglas could take a wrong turn with her plot and really wreck a great beginning. At one point, I was even convinced she had done this. But she outfoxed me and crafted a fully satisfying tale from beginning to end with an especially heartwarming epilogue.
The novel then enters its best as a smalltown police department tries to come to grips with what happened to Sally and to figure out a way to help her. They gather a ton of very well thought out evidence that her story is true—she has been lifted out of the past and stuck into their present for reasons she does not understand. Tensions rise when the federal government becomes aware of the situation, leading to Sally effectively “going on the run” so that she will have a chance to find her children—both of whom are now senior citizens.
I want to be careful about giving too much of the plot away. I will settle for saying that I foresaw a number of ways that Douglas could take a wrong turn with her plot and really wreck a great beginning. At one point, I was even convinced she had done this. But she outfoxed me and crafted a fully satisfying tale from beginning to end with an especially heartwarming epilogue.
February 26, 2024
Hello, time travel lovers! I'm thrilled to share a book by Elyse Douglas called 'Time Lost.'
'Time Lost' is a captivating story that transports us from 1953 to 2023 with Sally Mason. Sally is a young wife and mother who attends a night class for shorthand in 1953. On her way home, she encounters a mysterious light and a face that appears in front of her car. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in a 2023 hospital surrounded by unfamiliar people and technology. The sheriff is baffled by her car and driver's license, which are both from 1953. He calls in a psychiatrist to help Sally cope with her situation. But Sally is not ready to give up on her past life and her family.
Join Sally on her incredible journey as she tries to find a way to cope with the loss of her life in 1953 while also adapting to the changes and challenges of 2023. 'Time Lost' is a moving and mesmerizing book filled with twists, turns, and surprises that will keep you hooked until the end.
• ASIN: B0CRS84W36
• Publisher: Broadback
• Publication Date: 2/26/2024
• File Size: 1894 KB
• Print Length: 301 pages
• Genre: Time Travel Science Fiction, Time Travel Romance, Time Travel Romances
'Time Lost' is a captivating story that transports us from 1953 to 2023 with Sally Mason. Sally is a young wife and mother who attends a night class for shorthand in 1953. On her way home, she encounters a mysterious light and a face that appears in front of her car. The next thing she knows, she wakes up in a 2023 hospital surrounded by unfamiliar people and technology. The sheriff is baffled by her car and driver's license, which are both from 1953. He calls in a psychiatrist to help Sally cope with her situation. But Sally is not ready to give up on her past life and her family.
Join Sally on her incredible journey as she tries to find a way to cope with the loss of her life in 1953 while also adapting to the changes and challenges of 2023. 'Time Lost' is a moving and mesmerizing book filled with twists, turns, and surprises that will keep you hooked until the end.
• ASIN: B0CRS84W36
• Publisher: Broadback
• Publication Date: 2/26/2024
• File Size: 1894 KB
• Print Length: 301 pages
• Genre: Time Travel Science Fiction, Time Travel Romance, Time Travel Romances
March 12, 2025
This was an enjoyable read. It’s been a while since I picked up a Sci-Fi book, especially one about aliens, and as a die-hard fan of The X-Files, that’s just a shame.
The story immediately caught my attention with its intriguing summary and cover. I had high hopes for the plot—time travel is always an exciting concept—and while the book delivered in some aspects, it fell short in others.
Some subplots felt unnecessary or didn’t quite make sense, and certain events seemed unrealistic for a story set in 2023. Sally’s reaction to seeing her older son as a bitter old man, while completely ignoring her daughter, felt out of character. The book missed an opportunity to explore her emotions more deeply and to show her perspective as a woman from 1953 navigating a radically different world. Her adaptation—or lack thereof—to the newfound freedoms of women in this era could have added a compelling layer to the story.
That being said, I really enjoyed the ending, though I still felt like something was missing in Sally’s character development. The book had an amateur feel—perhaps the author is new—but it shows a lot of potential for the future.
The story immediately caught my attention with its intriguing summary and cover. I had high hopes for the plot—time travel is always an exciting concept—and while the book delivered in some aspects, it fell short in others.
Some subplots felt unnecessary or didn’t quite make sense, and certain events seemed unrealistic for a story set in 2023. Sally’s reaction to seeing her older son as a bitter old man, while completely ignoring her daughter, felt out of character. The book missed an opportunity to explore her emotions more deeply and to show her perspective as a woman from 1953 navigating a radically different world. Her adaptation—or lack thereof—to the newfound freedoms of women in this era could have added a compelling layer to the story.
That being said, I really enjoyed the ending, though I still felt like something was missing in Sally’s character development. The book had an amateur feel—perhaps the author is new—but it shows a lot of potential for the future.
July 21, 2024
Poor execution of a nice premise. If you read the prologue you'll have to re-read it all over again. Perhaps the author understands that a majority of readers skip such things to begin at chapter one.
The protagonist is a selfish, egotistical feminist fantasy, hell-bent on having her own way regardless of the long-term consequences to her children, her marriage, or her family in general.
She puts herself before her family as most modern women do and no matter how many "take one for the team" moments her husband has for the greater good of the family, she can't do likewise. While she can't or won't fully explain herself is proof of poor writing. We never learn why the night class is so urgent/important to do right away rather than until her youngest is a bit older so all we're left with is the idea that this selfish woman would rather work for a boss in an office than continue working for her family. DNF - contemporary fiction is already overflowing with delusional feminist tropes. IDk why the author felt so compelled to spoil a 'fish out of water' trope like this.
The protagonist is a selfish, egotistical feminist fantasy, hell-bent on having her own way regardless of the long-term consequences to her children, her marriage, or her family in general.
She puts herself before her family as most modern women do and no matter how many "take one for the team" moments her husband has for the greater good of the family, she can't do likewise. While she can't or won't fully explain herself is proof of poor writing. We never learn why the night class is so urgent/important to do right away rather than until her youngest is a bit older so all we're left with is the idea that this selfish woman would rather work for a boss in an office than continue working for her family. DNF - contemporary fiction is already overflowing with delusional feminist tropes. IDk why the author felt so compelled to spoil a 'fish out of water' trope like this.
November 12, 2024
So, so good. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about a young woman who is transported 70 years into the future from 1953, by an alien who wanted to save her life. Sally Ann Mason was very confused in the future where everything was different. Her over riding desire was to see her now grown children so she could tell them she didn't leave them intentionally and that she loved them. She wanted to see how their lives had turned out. She was very disappointed and sad. But she also learned things about herself and the husband she left in the past.
When an alien offers her a chance to go back with the knowledge that she might end up in anytime or even be killed or maimed in the car crash she had previously been saved from, she jumps at the chance.
I loved how this story surprised me with unexpected outcomes, as well as with the life lessons Sally learned. This isn't a romance by any means, but it does have a happy ending that made me smile.
When an alien offers her a chance to go back with the knowledge that she might end up in anytime or even be killed or maimed in the car crash she had previously been saved from, she jumps at the chance.
I loved how this story surprised me with unexpected outcomes, as well as with the life lessons Sally learned. This isn't a romance by any means, but it does have a happy ending that made me smile.
April 28, 2025
Another "new to me" author. This was a book that somehow ended up in my Audible library and I pretty much went into it without any knowledge.
The premise of the story is that our FMC - Sally Mason - is coming home from a night school class in 1953 and has a crazy experience with a bright blue light. When she awakens, she (and her car) are not in 1953 any longer and discovers that it is now 2023.
There are a lot of side stories in this one. We meet a secondary character who works in an offshoot of the CIA in the UAP (formerly called UFO's) department. I think it now stands for "unidentified anomalous phenomena". Anyway, we follow along as the story unfolds and as Sally is faced with a world that is very different from the world she knew.
I did enjoy this. I listened to this on audio and the narration was done by another first time narrator for me in Natalie Duke.
This is my first time reading anything by this author but I do not think it will be the last.
The premise of the story is that our FMC - Sally Mason - is coming home from a night school class in 1953 and has a crazy experience with a bright blue light. When she awakens, she (and her car) are not in 1953 any longer and discovers that it is now 2023.
There are a lot of side stories in this one. We meet a secondary character who works in an offshoot of the CIA in the UAP (formerly called UFO's) department. I think it now stands for "unidentified anomalous phenomena". Anyway, we follow along as the story unfolds and as Sally is faced with a world that is very different from the world she knew.
I did enjoy this. I listened to this on audio and the narration was done by another first time narrator for me in Natalie Duke.
This is my first time reading anything by this author but I do not think it will be the last.
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May 29, 2024EXCELLENT!!!
An excellent read. Moves quickly, I read it in two days. It's mysterious, enthralling and curious. Just the way I think most folks will like it. Our hero Sally is plunged into the future, from 1953 to 2023. 70 yrs is a lifetime for many people and Sally has to deal with it once she is finally told what year it actually is. She is amazed and confused and upset that she can't see her children or husband. As the book moves along she has to learn how to trust people she doesn't know in order to figure out what to do with herself. How does she trust two women who work with and for the government? How does she deal with never seeing her husband and children again. Who should she trust? All the answers are here in the book. Be sure to pick it up and find out the answers. Many thanks to the authors Elyse and Douglas. I look forward to reading more of their books.
An excellent read. Moves quickly, I read it in two days. It's mysterious, enthralling and curious. Just the way I think most folks will like it. Our hero Sally is plunged into the future, from 1953 to 2023. 70 yrs is a lifetime for many people and Sally has to deal with it once she is finally told what year it actually is. She is amazed and confused and upset that she can't see her children or husband. As the book moves along she has to learn how to trust people she doesn't know in order to figure out what to do with herself. How does she trust two women who work with and for the government? How does she deal with never seeing her husband and children again. Who should she trust? All the answers are here in the book. Be sure to pick it up and find out the answers. Many thanks to the authors Elyse and Douglas. I look forward to reading more of their books.
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