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The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper #1
A Matter of Time
Rebecca had her life planned and checked off her list: a veterinary degree, a husband and daughter, and her first veterinary clinical position. She was set for life. But then the unexpected happened....
A chance encounter separates her in time and space from all she had planned. Disoriented and desperate, Rebecca begins an adventure to places she could not imagine. Facing both physical and emotional trials, she fights to find her life again. In the spirit of True Grit, Rebecca Harper won’t stop until she reaches her goal.
In her quest to return to her family and time, Rebecca meets real and fictional characters of the 1800s who help her traverse America. Will she be able to find her way back to the 1900s, or is she bound to the past?
9 hrs. 33 min.
A chance encounter separates her in time and space from all she had planned. Disoriented and desperate, Rebecca begins an adventure to places she could not imagine. Facing both physical and emotional trials, she fights to find her life again. In the spirit of True Grit, Rebecca Harper won’t stop until she reaches her goal.
In her quest to return to her family and time, Rebecca meets real and fictional characters of the 1800s who help her traverse America. Will she be able to find her way back to the 1900s, or is she bound to the past?
9 hrs. 33 min.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2024
About the author
Elizabeth Woolsey
19 books28 followersBorn into a family of horse doctors and raised in California, Elizabeth Woolsey always knew where she was headed. After graduating from UC Davis and completing her DVM at Auburn University in 1984, she did what most people only dream of she packed her life into boxes, moved to Australia, and spent the next 35 years doing the work she loved most: keeping horses alive.
As a practicing equine veterinarian in rural South Australia, Elizabeth delivered foals at dawn, repaired stallions by flashlight at midnight, and drove hundreds of miles through the outback attending to animals and the people who loved them. She published professional papers on equine surgery and burn treatment, raised a daughter as a single mother, and somehow found time to notice that her life was worth writing about.
Her first book, Horse Doctor: An American Vet's Life Down Under, was compared to James Herriot by Kirkus Reviews. Her fiction series The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper and the Horse Doctor Adventures brings that same authenticity, dry wit and deep love of animals to storytelling that readers call impossible to put down.
Recently retired and back in the United States, Elizabeth writes full time under Horse Doctor Press. Her upcoming novel Custody Down Under explores what happens when a six-year-old girl and two estranged grandfathers must find their way back to each other across oceans of grief and geography.
She still rides. She still fishes. And she is still, at heart, a horse doctor.
As a practicing equine veterinarian in rural South Australia, Elizabeth delivered foals at dawn, repaired stallions by flashlight at midnight, and drove hundreds of miles through the outback attending to animals and the people who loved them. She published professional papers on equine surgery and burn treatment, raised a daughter as a single mother, and somehow found time to notice that her life was worth writing about.
Her first book, Horse Doctor: An American Vet's Life Down Under, was compared to James Herriot by Kirkus Reviews. Her fiction series The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper and the Horse Doctor Adventures brings that same authenticity, dry wit and deep love of animals to storytelling that readers call impossible to put down.
Recently retired and back in the United States, Elizabeth writes full time under Horse Doctor Press. Her upcoming novel Custody Down Under explores what happens when a six-year-old girl and two estranged grandfathers must find their way back to each other across oceans of grief and geography.
She still rides. She still fishes. And she is still, at heart, a horse doctor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 24, 2024
The plots and storylines of this series are quite appealing. I may go back and change to 4 stars, in consideration, but the writing itself is fairly clumsy with poor word choices, repetition, and less-than-ideal character development and scene transitions.
March 11, 2023
While checking out a potentially new veterinary practice and the surrounding location Rebecca is caught in a landslide and wakes up in a different timeline.
She is now in the 1800’s and struggling to cope. She has to find a way back to her own time and her family.
A slow moving story with constant references to an old television show that I had never seen, therefore I was lost to the relevance.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
She is now in the 1800’s and struggling to cope. She has to find a way back to her own time and her family.
A slow moving story with constant references to an old television show that I had never seen, therefore I was lost to the relevance.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
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September 3, 2026Free E-book. I didn’t like the story or the writing. I suppose for it being free I don’t have any reason to complain.
August 9, 2025
A time traveler- what a ride into the past!
Gosh! This story, once begun, is impossible to put down. The female Veterinarian in the present, is vaulted backwards to the mid 1850’s, & into an area which seems to be the near exact copy of a famous Western TV program (sort of like Bonanza).
This confuses the time traveler into thinking she has had an accident, & is in a dreaming or coma state, because there are too many similarities to the TV program. I did find the character’s reasons for traveling away from the area she occupied in the exact same are in both the past & present- nonsensical. However, the story was fascinating!
Gosh! This story, once begun, is impossible to put down. The female Veterinarian in the present, is vaulted backwards to the mid 1850’s, & into an area which seems to be the near exact copy of a famous Western TV program (sort of like Bonanza).
This confuses the time traveler into thinking she has had an accident, & is in a dreaming or coma state, because there are too many similarities to the TV program. I did find the character’s reasons for traveling away from the area she occupied in the exact same are in both the past & present- nonsensical. However, the story was fascinating!
September 6, 2025
So ... I don't think this one really worked for me. Per the premise, it seems to be a mix of Outlander and All Creatures Great and Small (I really liked both of those). The writing was just ... off. It felt like this stream of consciousness, so much of it in the MC's head, with odd asides. 1st person, I wondered if maybe it would have felt more polished written in 3rd person? I think my brain was attempting a re-write in my head to see if it would sound more natural.
The idea that she(Becky) had been not only transported back in time ... but basically into a television show she was familiar with, was intriguing. Like having watched all the seasons of Yellowstone, and then showing up there with those characters, now real live people (a bit earlier than the show setting).
I never felt real emotion/connection ... I mean it said that Becky was sad, to be separated from her husband/daughter, but I never felt it. SPOILERS
The epilogue was written like this had been written TO the reader (If you're reading this ...) yet the book hadn't ever felt like it had been written for a reader. As mentioned, it was too much just in her head, not like she was actually telling/writing down a story. And so much of the time, the writing just felt amateurish and awkward.
There are sequels, but I don't plan on continuing.
There was a GRAYSON in this.
There were seven PARTS,, and 52 chronological chapters running through. The parts divided the main changes in life through the years.
There were some detailed veterinarian procedures described ...
The whole "imaginary TV town" nor the time travel were ever explained ...
Didn't love the narrator, but maybe it was the writing? Text included in KU, audio was available on Hoopla ... When "unrequited" was said, it was pronounced un-WRECK-wu-ted. Odd.
Even the title threw me off ... Is this called The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper? Or A Matter of Time? The former is much larger on the cover and seems more of the title, I wasn't sure what to search to bring it up in GoodReads. The cover makes me think of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (TV series I really enjoyed).
The idea that she(Becky) had been not only transported back in time ... but basically into a television show she was familiar with, was intriguing. Like having watched all the seasons of Yellowstone, and then showing up there with those characters, now real live people (a bit earlier than the show setting).
I never felt real emotion/connection ... I mean it said that Becky was sad, to be separated from her husband/daughter, but I never felt it. SPOILERS
The epilogue was written like this had been written TO the reader (If you're reading this ...) yet the book hadn't ever felt like it had been written for a reader. As mentioned, it was too much just in her head, not like she was actually telling/writing down a story. And so much of the time, the writing just felt amateurish and awkward.
There are sequels, but I don't plan on continuing.
There was a GRAYSON in this.
There were seven PARTS,, and 52 chronological chapters running through. The parts divided the main changes in life through the years.
There were some detailed veterinarian procedures described ...
The whole "imaginary TV town" nor the time travel were ever explained ...
Didn't love the narrator, but maybe it was the writing? Text included in KU, audio was available on Hoopla ... When "unrequited" was said, it was pronounced un-WRECK-wu-ted. Odd.
Even the title threw me off ... Is this called The Travels of Dr. Rebecca Harper? Or A Matter of Time? The former is much larger on the cover and seems more of the title, I wasn't sure what to search to bring it up in GoodReads. The cover makes me think of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (TV series I really enjoyed).
September 4, 2021
Rebecca Harper, here today, gone today.
Time travel has become a popular method of travel for authors writing romantic fiction. I confess to liking it. Woolsey has drawn a different character from the trending Highlander. Rebecca, or Becky as her friends call her is a modern girl who fits in with country ways. Her career of choice is the veterinary path and she uses her knowledge on both four legged and two legged creatures in the 19th century.
Horses and handsome men keep Becky very busy as she tries to adjust to the loss of the family she left behind.
An unfortunate accident was the culprit that sent Becky into the past, and she spends years tying to recreate the step into Time. Finally there is a love element that rewards her years of devout loyalty to the man she left behind and she now has reason to love the life she has been given.
Read this book. It was good enough to make me finish it, and is a far better story than I had expected. Five stars for the author for giving us a fresh look at a well worn theme.
Time travel has become a popular method of travel for authors writing romantic fiction. I confess to liking it. Woolsey has drawn a different character from the trending Highlander. Rebecca, or Becky as her friends call her is a modern girl who fits in with country ways. Her career of choice is the veterinary path and she uses her knowledge on both four legged and two legged creatures in the 19th century.
Horses and handsome men keep Becky very busy as she tries to adjust to the loss of the family she left behind.
An unfortunate accident was the culprit that sent Becky into the past, and she spends years tying to recreate the step into Time. Finally there is a love element that rewards her years of devout loyalty to the man she left behind and she now has reason to love the life she has been given.
Read this book. It was good enough to make me finish it, and is a far better story than I had expected. Five stars for the author for giving us a fresh look at a well worn theme.
January 5, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished the series in a few days. And then… I was sad the series was over.
The author is talented in the world building for both ends of this time travel novel. The characters were richly developed, believable and appealing. It was gratifying to watch the FMC Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Harper learn and negotiate her new life in the 1800’s, despite her desolation about her circumstances and her inability to locate a portal back to the 1980’s (her former time). I enjoyed the “modern woman” in the 1800’s theme as much as I loved the work that Dr. Harper did first as a veterinarian and then later when she pursued her medical diploma. Her solo travels were varied and the connections she made came to serve her well in subsequent years.
The author imbues Becky with a good sense of humor, which was much needed. Additionally Dr. Harper is an engaging and compelling character with strength and integrity and resourcefulness. I was very much rooting for her romance with the patriarch of the Buchanan family. I particularly enjoyed the family and found family members of the Buchanan family.
If you want to be entertained and transported to another time, I highly recommend this book and the series.
The author is talented in the world building for both ends of this time travel novel. The characters were richly developed, believable and appealing. It was gratifying to watch the FMC Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Harper learn and negotiate her new life in the 1800’s, despite her desolation about her circumstances and her inability to locate a portal back to the 1980’s (her former time). I enjoyed the “modern woman” in the 1800’s theme as much as I loved the work that Dr. Harper did first as a veterinarian and then later when she pursued her medical diploma. Her solo travels were varied and the connections she made came to serve her well in subsequent years.
The author imbues Becky with a good sense of humor, which was much needed. Additionally Dr. Harper is an engaging and compelling character with strength and integrity and resourcefulness. I was very much rooting for her romance with the patriarch of the Buchanan family. I particularly enjoyed the family and found family members of the Buchanan family.
If you want to be entertained and transported to another time, I highly recommend this book and the series.
September 20, 2024
Kindle of topsy-turvey, but a good ride
Enjoyed book. When I started, almost stopped because of how she reacted first to the townspeople she first encountered.
It was fun how she would stumble onto people who looked like their TV counterparts, and had the name of those characters. It was interesting to see the combo of how she had to deal with real history along with how things worked out.
Still considering if I want to follow her daughter into the next two books. Don't expect everything to be easy in these stories. No magic fixes for problems they had to deal with then, but still.... enjoyed it.
Enjoyed book. When I started, almost stopped because of how she reacted first to the townspeople she first encountered.
It was fun how she would stumble onto people who looked like their TV counterparts, and had the name of those characters. It was interesting to see the combo of how she had to deal with real history along with how things worked out.
Still considering if I want to follow her daughter into the next two books. Don't expect everything to be easy in these stories. No magic fixes for problems they had to deal with then, but still.... enjoyed it.
April 16, 2024
Lame
Don't bother to read if your IQ is 75 or above. This was such a disappointment when it had so much potential. Sentences are short, and I don't know if the author can't get her thoughts together, or perhaps she is mentally challenged. I have enjoyed many good books about time travel, time warps, and time parallels but this book was floundering after the vet found herself on the other side of the rock slide. There was no hope, and I had to abandon such tripe at 45%.
Don't bother to read if your IQ is 75 or above. This was such a disappointment when it had so much potential. Sentences are short, and I don't know if the author can't get her thoughts together, or perhaps she is mentally challenged. I have enjoyed many good books about time travel, time warps, and time parallels but this book was floundering after the vet found herself on the other side of the rock slide. There was no hope, and I had to abandon such tripe at 45%.
April 28, 2024
I found this book remarkable for those who love time travel. The author brought back so many memories from my childhood with the characters she has in her story. There is laughter and sadness that the reader experiences, but the outcomes help the reader to understand this is where the character belongs. Well done, keep writing please.
February 2, 2025
Hoopla Digital Audiobooks Publisher: Findaway Voices
I chose this story because I love horses and was very impressed with this story of a woman who becomes a vet and leaves her husband behind to finish his education and her daughter stays with her husband as she goes out to look for a job but starts a bigger adventure after a disaster sends her to the mid 1800s meeting people she has read about and goes along in history.
I chose this story because I love horses and was very impressed with this story of a woman who becomes a vet and leaves her husband behind to finish his education and her daughter stays with her husband as she goes out to look for a job but starts a bigger adventure after a disaster sends her to the mid 1800s meeting people she has read about and goes along in history.
August 4, 2025
First, let me say that I am not a writer. I am a reader, and this book was definitely not written by a reader. I tried to continue through all the typos and dropped sentences/paragraphs and make sense of this pathetic attempt of time travel but ultimately gave up. I am saddened that I wasted so much time and effort on this book and I'm very happy it was free.
June 7, 2026
Interesting book
I liked the book. I felt all the references to old western TV shows and movie stars were a little strange at first, but I got used to it as I read more. The storyline was very interesting. I enjoyed the time and location the book was set in. There were many references to places and things that happened throughout the book that were very interesting.
I liked the book. I felt all the references to old western TV shows and movie stars were a little strange at first, but I got used to it as I read more. The storyline was very interesting. I enjoyed the time and location the book was set in. There were many references to places and things that happened throughout the book that were very interesting.
September 8, 2021
Brilliant time travelling story
Half time travelling adventure half coming of age drama with a dash of romance thrown in. This book was very well written and kept me entertained throughout.
Half time travelling adventure half coming of age drama with a dash of romance thrown in. This book was very well written and kept me entertained throughout.
February 10, 2023
Cracking story!
Full of interesting twists and turns, and unexpected bits. I really enjoyed this book, time travel, but different. It was filled interesting and memorable characters. Many thanks Elizabeth Woolsey.
Full of interesting twists and turns, and unexpected bits. I really enjoyed this book, time travel, but different. It was filled interesting and memorable characters. Many thanks Elizabeth Woolsey.
February 16, 2023
So good!
Loved this story! It was almost like living in the olden times, yet the heroine, Becky, faced each situation with such reality, it made it believable! Loved the ending! Great read!
Loved this story! It was almost like living in the olden times, yet the heroine, Becky, faced each situation with such reality, it made it believable! Loved the ending! Great read!
August 17, 2023
Brilliant time travelling story
Half time travelling adventure half coming of age drama with a dash of romance thrown in. This book was very well written and kept me entertained throughout.
Half time travelling adventure half coming of age drama with a dash of romance thrown in. This book was very well written and kept me entertained throughout.
April 6, 2024
good escape
Makes you appreciate the here and now - romanticizing rhe past when the past was full of hard life challenges is a very good reminder to welcome today for how today is.
Great story that is easy to get lost in too.
Makes you appreciate the here and now - romanticizing rhe past when the past was full of hard life challenges is a very good reminder to welcome today for how today is.
Great story that is easy to get lost in too.
May 1, 2024
Great
Good time travel story about a young vet who goes back to the 1800s. Lots of specifics about the time and veterinary medicine. She finds a new love and adapts to the time. Well written and believable.
Good time travel story about a young vet who goes back to the 1800s. Lots of specifics about the time and veterinary medicine. She finds a new love and adapts to the time. Well written and believable.
May 26, 2024
I loved this book
I admire Becky...she's feisty, strong and multi-talented. She certainly has adventures! Loved reading about her vet experiences as well as going to med school. Ms Woolsey did a great job "jumping" between centuries. Looking forward to more of this story!!
I admire Becky...she's feisty, strong and multi-talented. She certainly has adventures! Loved reading about her vet experiences as well as going to med school. Ms Woolsey did a great job "jumping" between centuries. Looking forward to more of this story!!
October 10, 2024
Well writren
I only give this book a four because I'm not the greatest fan of time travel stories. It is written in first person, easy to follow and a good story. I did enjoy the characters, especially her dad! I love old west stories and this was a good one.
I only give this book a four because I'm not the greatest fan of time travel stories. It is written in first person, easy to follow and a good story. I did enjoy the characters, especially her dad! I love old west stories and this was a good one.
December 11, 2024
wonderful story!
Truly a wonderful story from start to finish. The characters were so impressive you could just see them and everything around them. I hated that it ended, I could have read on and one.
Truly a wonderful story from start to finish. The characters were so impressive you could just see them and everything around them. I hated that it ended, I could have read on and one.
December 16, 2024
WOW ! What a great Book
WOW ! What a great Book, I really love this book the story starts in the 20th century and ends in the 19th century. It really held my interest so much I could not put it down. This is a MUST READ. Can’t wait for the next book.
WOW ! What a great Book, I really love this book the story starts in the 20th century and ends in the 19th century. It really held my interest so much I could not put it down. This is a MUST READ. Can’t wait for the next book.
July 19, 2025
Fun time travel with a difference
I read this book in a day, as I found myself captivated by the protagonist and an unconventional twist on accidental time travel. I appreciate that it is asatisfying, stand-alone novel-- though I would welcome another traveler's tale!
I read this book in a day, as I found myself captivated by the protagonist and an unconventional twist on accidental time travel. I appreciate that it is asatisfying, stand-alone novel-- though I would welcome another traveler's tale!
May 13, 2026
Great read and fun to!
You will love the characters and who they are. Great story line from start to finish. Sit back and enjoy a good cup of coffee on the back porch with this one
You will love the characters and who they are. Great story line from start to finish. Sit back and enjoy a good cup of coffee on the back porch with this one
May 27, 2026
Maybe one and a half stars because the premise was good. Unfortunately, the clumsy writing and inconsistencies in the story telling made it difficult to make sense of what was happening and why Becky made certain choices.
August 29, 2026
Great Story
This is one of those books that are hard to put down. I just wanted to know what could happen next. The story is interesting from the very start with vivid characters, interesting plot and great ending.
This is one of those books that are hard to put down. I just wanted to know what could happen next. The story is interesting from the very start with vivid characters, interesting plot and great ending.
August 30, 2026
couldn’t put it down!
Great story! Enjoyed it! Finished it in about three days. Dr. Rebecca Harper is quite a resilient woman. Need how music was the secret clue between Time travelers.
Great story! Enjoyed it! Finished it in about three days. Dr. Rebecca Harper is quite a resilient woman. Need how music was the secret clue between Time travelers.
September 9, 2026
Memoirs of a Warrior Woman.
A very descriptive and well expressed historical adventure alongside a believable time travel narrative. Equally appealing to all ages male and female.
A very descriptive and well expressed historical adventure alongside a believable time travel narrative. Equally appealing to all ages male and female.
September 13, 2026
Time travel could it be real
kahnzollie815@gmail.com
This is a great book that talks about time travel makes you question if time travel is real in my opinion I would say yes how it's done that is for God to know
kahnzollie815@gmail.com
This is a great book that talks about time travel makes you question if time travel is real in my opinion I would say yes how it's done that is for God to know
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews