Captain Richard Starke, U.S. Army Rangers, is on assignment in Spain, the result of a disciplinary action. He is pulled back to December 1808 to save a woman from French soldiers intent on rape and murder. How? Because of a family heirloom, an ancient medallion she wears for protection.
When Melissa Graham is saved by a strangely dressed man with wonderous weapons, she doesn’t know what to think. Neither does the captain. What she does know is that they must find the British Army. That means a march through bleak mountains in winter, more than 250 miles pursued by the French forces under Napoleon.
Her hardest task may be to win the captain’s cooperation, convincing him that it is 1808, and his best chances of getting back to the twenty-first century will be to escort her safely to the British Army and her uncle.
Maybe. She isn’t sure how the family talisman works. The greatest risk Melissa and Richard face during the dangerous trek may be their hearts.
I started writing historical romances on a dare. One day I couldn't find anything new to read and Joy, the love of my life, suggested a romance, Jude Deveraux's The Princess. I enjoyed it and started reading more. I realized that most of the SF, comedy, Historicals, and mystery books I liked had a romance in them: the Dorsai series, the four volume Man of his Word fantasy series, The Sebasitan St. Cyr series, The Dog Tails, even P.G.Woodhouse's Leave it to Psmith and Richard Powell's comedy Don Quixote, U.S.A. I have been a Napoleonic enthusiast since I was young, so the Regency period appealed to me.
I read a few excruciatingly bad romances, amazed that they'd been published. So one day, I said, "I can write better than this" as I flung one such book in the trash. Joy gave me that look of hers. "So, why don't you?" The rest is history...romances. I found the Romance genre quite a challenge. I discovered there is a lot more to them than flowery words and kissing. Who knew?
I chose the time travel romances because it allows me to show the contrasts between time periods in a way a straight-forward historical can't. So much of a period's culture is common knowledge and often unconscious. No one would think to describe or discuss universally shared beliefs and conventions. It's rather unnatural to have characters discuss such things.It is hard to avoid information dumps. But put some one in that culture from another time and contrasts and culture shock ensue. I find it a lot of fun, though I enjoy writing ‘straight’ historical and contemporary romances too. I also chose time travel stories because of a personal frustration of mine. In too many novels, the time traveler realizes they have traveled in time one page after it happens and accepts the fact in the next paragraph. I try for a more realistic approach to such an cataclysmic event.
I write because it is fun, hard work to be sure, but enjoyable. My wife provides a lot of inspiration. My goal is a simple one: Provide an entertaining reading experience.
Saving Time by B.W. Haggart is nothing short of a literary masterpiece! Although the book is a standalone - it's a third instalment in the Romancing Time series offers an exhilarating journey through time, brimming with historical richness, heart-pounding action, and an unforgettable romance (closed door).
Captain Richard Starke, a disciplined U.S. Army Ranger, is unexpectedly thrust from modern-day Spain to the war-torn landscape of December 1808. The transition, catalysed by a mysterious family heirloom, sets the stage for an epic tale of courage, survival, and love. Richard’s modern sensibilities and advanced weaponry juxtapose brilliantly against the brutal backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, creating a riveting narrative tension that grips the reader from the first page to the last.
Melissa Graham, the resilient and resourceful heroine, adds depth and charm to the story. Her determination to navigate the perilous journey through 250 miles of wintry Spanish mountains, while evading Napoleon’s relentless forces, showcases her indomitable spirit. Her mission to convince Richard of their temporal displacement and the importance of escorting her to the British Army becomes a fascinating dance of wills, laden with historical detail and emotional nuance.
Haggart’s meticulous attention to historical accuracy is remarkable. The vivid descriptions of the bleak yet beautiful Spanish landscape, the harsh realities of 19th-century warfare, and the intricacies of historical events are seamlessly woven into the narrative. This type of quality story takes time to create and is pure joy to read. The blend of historical facts with imaginative storytelling is executed flawlessly, resulting in a richly immersive experience that transports readers through time.
The dynamic between Richard and Melissa is electric. Their growing bond, fraught with tension and burgeoning affection, is beautifully portrayed against the backdrop of their perilous quest. Their journey is not just a physical one but an emotional and temporal odyssey that tests their resolve and reshapes their futures.
Saving Time is the best read of the year, a book that leaves you yearning for more. It is a shining example of historical romance at its finest, blending rich historical context with thrilling adventure and deep emotional resonance. I wish there were more books with this level of awesomeness, offering such a perfect balance of history and storytelling.
This novel is a testament to the power of love and courage across the ages, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Five stars well-deserved!
Captain Richard Starke, U.S. Army Rangers, is on assignment in Spain, the result of a disciplinary action. He is pulled back to December 1808 to save a woman from French soldiers intent on rape and murder. How? Because of a family heirloom, an ancient medallion she wears for protection. When Melissa Graham is saved by a strangely dressed man with wonderous weapons, she doesn’t know what to think. Neither does the captain. What she does know is that they must find the British Army. The third book in the series & I’ve waited a while for it but it was well worth the wait & I thoroughly recommend it. I’m not a great lover of time travel books but this one worked. Thank goodness Rig had his rucksack! I loved both Rig & Melissa & loved this often edge of the seat book, I can’t believe it was over 450 pages as I devoured it in two sittings & loved the conclusion I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
What happens when you take history, blend it with time travel and romance? Well you have a fantastic story! I've never been a huge fan of time travel yet I so enjoyed this one. Instead of a woman going back in time, this author took a different approach and had a soldier, Richard, go back into the 1800 during the war between France and England. Creatively written to use what Richard had in his military bag, he and Melissa go on a grueling journey in the middle of winter moving towards the English and evading the French. Plus it's written by a male author, which is interesting when it comes to the steamy parts of the romance. Have never read this author before and enjoyed it immensely. This is the 3rd book in the series and I personally will go back and read the other two as well as what ever is written in the future. An absolute page turner!
Good book! I really enjoyed how Rig made use of his “modern” items from his rucksack as needed. It just illustrates the dependence we have on these items, and how lost we would be if we were in his place. I loved the journey they made and how they came to trust each other. Also loved all the (true) history in the book too! Well written!
I received a free copy of this book from the author. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
The third story in the Romancing Time, another engrossing story. This is Captain Richard Starke, U.S. Army Rangers gets pulled back to 1808 and meets Melissa Graham. They will have things to overcome. the characters are strong, the story is well written with a very good storyline that makes you feel like you are there seeing the story unfold. the story was well worth reading. I liked the cover. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Very much enjoyed this story. It was written by an author who was new to me, so I was curious to see what the result would be. I wasn’t disappointed.
The characters were great and had great connections and charisma, the storyline was very interesting and had me really engaged from the beginning. It’s one I would recommend others try.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
This new novel from Haggart features a modern soldier cast back in time to the Napoleonic wars in 1809 where he encounters a woman desperately trying to flee to safety. The story is wonderful, heart-felt and pacy.
If you love time travel romance, it’s top-notch. If you love historical detail, it’s superb, and if you know anything about the military (modern and historical), it will make you smile in recognition. Haggart has a unique knack of bringing the past to life.
I didn’t guess the ending, which was just right and satisfying. Highly recommended.
5 stars. I thought this book was exceptional. The male and female main characters were very well developed. For the most part, the historical and military setting for the story was very well presented. While it is a "romance", I didn't find the writing overly mushy; it's what I guess is called a "slow burn" romance. Lastly, the time travel aspects of the book were also well fit into the story.
Delightful surprise. Easily my favorite of the ‘Romancing Time’ series. Brings to mind Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe’s Rifles stories from the Peninsular War, and Diana Gabaldon’ Outlander series. Lots of detailed history from the Corunna campaign, a good dose of HEA romance, and plenty of Scots Gaelic interlaced in the dialogue for flavor.
This has to be one of the most compelling and exciting novels I have read in a long time. I usually eschew the time travel genre, but am so glad that I committed to reading this book. From beginning to end the plot had me in its grip as Rig found himself transported to a violent world as bad as anything he had experienced in modern-day warfare. Racing to rescue a young woman in period dress, the re-enactment of the war in Spain in December 1808 had just gone completely off script and became a reality. Melissa did not anticipate the power of the amulet her grandmother gave her when she held it in her hand as she was surrounded by French soldiers intent on causing her a fate worse than death. The man that rose up out of the smoke is like no other she has ever seen, but that does not compare with his weapons, the wonderful meals that he carries with him, or the life-giving medical supplies in his pockets. Rig is a wonderful hero, everything that Melissa could ever want in a man but her self-doubt intrudes as she battles with her perception of who she is. Rig and Melissa go through one of the most grueling experiences they could have imagined, neither of them having any understanding of how it came about or how it could be resolved. I loved that the plot came to a conclusion that promised new beginnings and that the past and the present were aligned. I received a copy of this well-written and exciting novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Rig suddenly finds himself in a strange place. He rescues a woman from French soldiers, but he cannot believe that he is two hundred years in the past. How can an amulet be powerful enough to make him travel through time? It is no ordinary medallion that brings him to the past. It is meant to protect Melissa from harm.
Rig and Melissa will take us on an adventure as they make their way towards the British army. They must evade French soldiers at every turn. How will they survive?
This time travel adventure kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who like time travel romance with plenty of action. Although this is the third in a series, it can be read as standalone. I read the previous books and loved them, too. I recommend the entire series to lovers of the genre.
Excellent time travel story with romance. It takes time during the Napoleon Wars and takes the reader into the time and trials of the British soldiers. An American soldier is taken back in time to the 1800s. He saves a female and they fall in love. Very descriptive of the times and the characters are very realistic.