The Nickel Loop

by Nancy Houser-Bluhm

Back of book




They say love conquers all, but can it conquer time?



Emmeline, a driven young woman, has withdrawn from friends and family since her adored father died suddenly. Traveling by train to visit her sister in a small Colorado town, she steps from 2022 into 1938. When she meets kind, well-educated Nicholas, she recognizes his panic and disbelief. He just arrived from 1898. 



The two struggle to grasp their shattered reality but blending into 1938 draws them close and love sparks. When a psychic offers hope for returning to their own times, will they forfeit what could be?



Nicholas is astonished by the advances 1938 offers but Emmeline knows the 1930s hold little opportunity for her as a woman. A discovery intensifies the pull back to her own time. Can her heart exist on two timelines?



Have you ever wished for a second chance at love or wished you could go back and change that one thing? If you have, you will be unable to resist Nicholas and Emmeline's story of love and choice.

Enjoy the Nickel Loop-a time travel romance with flavors of historical fiction.

Genres: Time Travel

354 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2024

About the author

Hi! Thanks for reading my bio. I hail from northern Michigan but was a mountain girl for decades in the foothills of Colorado. After retiring from life as a speech-language pathologist I wrote what I knew making the main character in my debut novel, an SLP. But that was merely a segue to the magic Mary encounters in the forest! My second novel The Nickel Loop is a time travel historical novel...all my favorite genres in one place.

If you love being delighted while exploring culture, eras, or climate related tidbits, check out my work.

I've written all my life. As an adolescent, I won a state wide essay contest with trip to a presidential inauguration. I published a journal, Minderings. You can find me on Substack with the same name, Minderings...a place for the wandering of your mind. Posts are varied and never boring. Usually something that sets my brain on fire.

Nancy's always loved the magical realism genre, but didn't have a name for it when reading the Half Magic series as a child.

Reviews

[Urvashi Pahwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a book is good when it's still in your head after you finish reading it. I was driving by downtown Denver and saw the Brown Palace. Instead of thinking about the High Tea I had enjoyed there last winter, I was imagining the Brown Palace in 1938 where Emmeline had visited. She was in a train and dozes off for a few minutes. When she gets up and walks off the train, she is in Glenwood Springs of 1938.
But there is another guy Nicholas who enters this era at the same time but from the past (1898)
This is such a fun story about how they navigate that time period and how they grow fond of each other. I enjoyed the conversations between them especially when they're in the cabin. There is some suspense about how they reached there, and the story flows smoothly.
I lovetime travel books that have some romance. And this one is appropriate.
I can't wait to read more about Emmeline and Nicholas. I was transported in that world and would love to do that again. Hoping to read a sequel as well!

[Madison Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started slow but then I couldn't put it down. This is Time Travel with a Twist!

This time travel novel is complex, with Nicholas traveling forward in time, Emmeline traveling backward so that they meet in 1938, confused, but able to rely on each other to figure things out. And that forward/backward referencing, and Ms. Houser-Bluhm's excellent writing are what make the story a page turner.

I admit, Emmeline grated on me in the beginning, as she is meant to, but the plot was so compelling that I kept reading and was well rewarded. I appreciated the simplicity of earlier days, and the strides we have made since 1938 as well. Most of all, I appreciated the research and thought that went into "The Nickel Loop."

I recommend this book for a creative, clever, unusual and romantic read.

[Mary Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an engaging story! The whole time I was reading I kept asking myself “what if?” So fun to think about what era I might like to travel to and the people I would meet.

Nancy gets you thinking about the power of marketing and how it influences our lives in such subtle ways. And food production! How great to approach these topics within a love story! The journey of N and E was fun to watch and I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading.

A great read that’s stimulating for both your head and your heart!

[MJ Altenhofen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Praise for The Nickel Loop! This time traveling page turner connects lovers, friends and family across the decades in delightful twists and turns! Have you ever thought what it would be like to go forward (or back) in time to change something, say something, or love someone!? Nancy Houser Bluhm intrigues us with the “What if…?” Reminiscent of “Butterfly Effect” and “Quantum Leap!” 👍👍

[Joyce Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nickel Loop blends elements of time travel, historical fiction and romance. It explores the relationship between Emmeline, who travels back in time from 2022; and Nicholas, who travels forward in time from 1878, and they meet in a small Colorado town in 1938. There is both love and loss. Getting my head around the time travel was difficult for me even though much time was spent by the main characters to figure out how to travel back and forth. I could identify with Emmeline’s struggle to commit herself to a typical woman’s life in 1938 with limited job opportunities and meagre wages while knowing that she had much better circumstances in 2022. Emmeline’s quest to change the food processing industry seemed quixotic despite her good intentions. The book has both long and short chapters which makes it very easy to read. I recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction and want to travel to a different time along with these characters. There is a lot to think about in this book when the tale is over.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Nickel Loop” is a heartfelt, whimsical story of time-travel by Nancy E. Houser-Bluhm. Emmeline is a young girl who is grieving the loss of her father and looking for a way to mend relationships with her sister and mother. She is heading to the annual family gathering when her train stops in the small town of Glenwood, Colorado.

On first glance, she is impressed with the 1900s theme the town is embracing, but soon learns she has left 2022 and landed in 1938. While she is trying to wrap her head around this, she meets Nicholas, who has also traveled from 1898 to 1938. Emmeline and Nicholas come together, and their friendship grows strong. As they try to plan how they will get back to their respective eras, they both learn it may not be as easy as they thought. Questions arise and Emmeline and Nicholas are left wondering if 1938 is where they want to stay.

Nancy Houser-Bluhm is to be commended for her writing style. Time-travel can be tricky, but the author has mastered it. Readers will note how easy it was to go back and forth without confusion. Each chapter is titled without the year, yet readers will have no trouble knowing where they are. The author’s choice to use a small number of characters only adds to the ease of reading “The Nickel Loop.”

My favorite aspect of this story is that the author does not choose a famous city or year in history to go to. She chooses a small town in Colorado in a regular year. Big things are about to happen in the history of the world, but the author doesn’t dwell on it. Her focus is on her characters and their specific stories. Readers will experience a refreshing and new way to read books involving time travel.

More than just a time-travel story, “The Nickel Loop” is a story that makes you contemplate what is important to you. Emmeline is a strong-willed modern woman living with all the conveniences of 2022. When she enters 1938, Emmeline is faced with the limited amount of opportunity for women of that era. Then we consider Nicholas. He is a man who has advanced in time and his perspective is covered with optimism. The difference of opinions is striking, and readers may change their mind about how cool it would be to time travel.

“The Nickel Loop” is a whimsical story of two people who learn lessons and experience feelings new to them. The author describes them well, giving readers a sense they know Emmeline and Nicholas personally. Readers are faced with serious scenarios and big decisions which make this a page turner. “The Nickel Loop” is a fun read that fans of historical fiction, time-travel, and contemporary romance will enjoy.

[Raine Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nickel Loop by Nancy Houser-Bluhm is a unlike any time travel book I’ve ever read. The storyline brings together Emmeline, who has left 2022 and arrived in 1938, and Nicholas, who arrived in the same year, from 1898. The interplay of past and future, and how they can mean very different things to different people is an interesting thread. The confrontation of changing social mores, attitudes, and technological advances across three different eras is fascinating. The relationship which develops between the two characters is sweet and believable. The compromises they each must make while living in 1938 are interesting, and their contemplation of a future together is compelling. (Whose future, after all?) I love stories with strong character arcs and Emmeline’s is solid. She isn’t the warmest person in the beginning; she has strong opinions and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she has a gentle soul and when she begins to open it to Nicholas, she loses her prickles without compromising her strength. The Nickel Loop is an extremely satisfying read and I look forward to more from the talented Houser-Bluhm.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The methods of communicating through time was cleverly done to enhance the plot. Emmeline was a character whose journey I could easily identify with.

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A time traveling romance about a young modern woman stuck in 1938 with a man from 1898. This book has a heavy hand in social commentary between the eras, what has changed and what should have never changed. Emmeline and Nicholas must work through their differences to understand each other and ultimately must find a compromise in order to be together. Excellent read!

[Jill Hewett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book by a new author. I enjoyed her characters and setting - I really kept wondering what was going to happen next!

[Mo Dedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nickel Loop is a heartwarming, adventurous story that will leave readers reflecting on the power of love, destiny, and the strange ways the universe brings people together.

The Author, Nancy Houser-Bluhm masterfully blends historical settings with a touch of magical realism, weaving a great story that feels both timeless and fresh. The chemistry between Emmeline and Nicholas feels both tender and inevitable, with the couple discovering not only a love that transcends time but a deep understanding of each other’s worlds.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, time travel, or love stories that transcend all boundaries, this book is a must-read. It is a wonderful journey through time and love that will resonate long after the final page is turned.

SIDE NOTE: I have a vision issue that makes it hard to read the written word so I was blessed to be able to hear the words that the author read through audio. I loved this story!

[Molly Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Author Nancy Houser-Bluhm does not disappoint! Again, she has written an original story impossible to put down. Whispers for Terra is creatively inspiring and The Nickel Loop is true love. The Nickel Loop brings to life characters that grapple with uncharted waters, sacrifice, and beliefs they hold true while falling deeply in love. The Colorado history is such a sweet bonus to read; Bluhm certainly did her research. The time travel is fascinating. The detail, connections, “loops” leave a reader completely enthralled. I loved every page of The Nickel Loop. Thank you, Nancy! You did it again!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It wonderfully captured the tale of Emmeline's unique adventure through time back to the year 1939. I enjoyed watching her character transformation. Throughout
the book the character has a bold approach to not only finding way to achieve what she wanted out of life, but in addition she realized what she couldn't live without. The Colorado history and insight into food production was also very enlightening. I highly recommend!

[Nancy Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging time travel romance. Nicholas and Emmeline evoke true emotion from their own eras at a place in history neither have lived. Somehow they manage to find strength and truth from each other’s perspectives, drawing them into a love that spans decades.
I recommend this novel to lovers of impossible possibilities.

[Michele Packard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Settle in with a warm blanket for this delightful, comforting read that seamlessly blends the charm of Somewhere in Time with the romance of The Lake House. This time travel tale promises to deliver all the heartwarming feels you crave.

[Nancy Suriano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read and unique topic.

[Lyn Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique take on time travel, i found this book to be well written and interesting.

[Allyson Bartling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an awesome idea, but in my opinion it fell short of what it could have been. Not as much depth and imagery as I had hoped, but I suppose it wasn’t a bad quick read. Not sure that I would recommend it to others though.

[Kat Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like time-traveling and romance, this is your next book!
Nancy sucks you into another time and place, weaving together historical moments with a romance and adding clues along the way of how times have changed. I love the premise for her main character, how she grows, what she learns. I was rooting for her all the way!
Nancy deals with delicate historical issues with a gentle hand and keen eye that leaves the reader satisfied.

[Nancy Houser-Bluhm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I love my story! Edmund is my favorite character. I didn’t expect that.