What do you think?
Rate this book
Stealing Time #1
Stealing Time
Stealing Time is a "breathtakingly original" time travel thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. As Hurricane Charley churns a path of destruction towards Orlando, Ronnie Andrews and her best friend, Stephanie McKay, scramble to prepare for the storm. Ronnie seeks shelter at her boyfriend’s weather lab while Steph waits for Nick hoping she won’t have to face the hurricane alone.
During the peak of the storm Ronnie is hurtled back in time to eighteenth-century London where she is caught in a web of superstition, deception, and lies. Accused of being a witch, Ronnie finds herself in a life and death struggle to return to her own time.
Steph and Nick are thrust into the middle of the hurricane where it quickly turns into a living nightmare as she is faced with losing everything.
During the peak of the storm Ronnie is hurtled back in time to eighteenth-century London where she is caught in a web of superstition, deception, and lies. Accused of being a witch, Ronnie finds herself in a life and death struggle to return to her own time.
Steph and Nick are thrust into the middle of the hurricane where it quickly turns into a living nightmare as she is faced with losing everything.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2014
586 people are currently reading
2889 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Waters
11 books747 followersKJ Waters is the international best-selling author of Stealing Time, Shattering Time, Killing Time, and short story Blow. Her books have been described as “breathtakingly original,” with “edge of your seat” action, and “characters are so well-written that they seem like real people.” Her Stealing Time Series books are often found on the Amazon best seller list next to Outlander and Michael Crichton’s Dragon’s Teeth and has reached #1 international bestselling status.
In addition to her writing, she is the runs KJ Waters Consultancy and the co-host of the podcast Blondie and the Brit (now making a comeback on TikTok), and provides author consulting services covering branding, social media, and publishing.
She has a Master’s in Business and over 22 years of experience in the marketing field. Before quitting her job to raise a family and work on writing she was the Director of Marketing and communications for a national behavioral healthcare company. For free chapters and giveaways visit her website at kjwaters.com.
Sign up for her newsletter for exclusive content and the first five chapters at www.kjwaters.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 17, 2017
This book rocked my world. I don't say that lightly! The premise is that a totally screwy boyfriend sends his girlfriend back in time during a hurricane (roll with me here - the author makes it 100% believable) and she ends up in London back in the 1700's. But this isn't the 1700's you read about in romance novels. No, this is the real 1700's with chamber pots and witch trials. She is frantically trying to get back while her best friend is back in the real world trying to survive the storm.
The entire book is insanely fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is so fast paced that you probably shouldn't read it if you have blood pressure issues! Haha! It is really, really, really good! I don't know how else to explain it without giving away a ton of spoilers but I highly recommend it.
***I got my copy from my monthly box from Indie Book Connect so it came AUTOGRAPHED too - which really rocks because I am now a huge fan of this author! If you haven't heard of Indie Book Connect before, you can find the on Cratejoy. They send two autographed indie books out each month for just $20 and they are always autographed plus you get a really cool bookmark. You should check them out ASAP if you are interested because they sell out like every month!
The entire book is insanely fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is so fast paced that you probably shouldn't read it if you have blood pressure issues! Haha! It is really, really, really good! I don't know how else to explain it without giving away a ton of spoilers but I highly recommend it.
***I got my copy from my monthly box from Indie Book Connect so it came AUTOGRAPHED too - which really rocks because I am now a huge fan of this author! If you haven't heard of Indie Book Connect before, you can find the on Cratejoy. They send two autographed indie books out each month for just $20 and they are always autographed plus you get a really cool bookmark. You should check them out ASAP if you are interested because they sell out like every month!
April 1, 2017
[Indie Book Connect - March 2017 Box]
If you are like me, you have probably fantasized what it would be like to live in a different time and country. Well, in Stealing Time, KJ Waters writes with such realism that you are able to actually do that. In this book, the main character's ass of a boyfriend sends her back to London in the 1700's without her knowledge or permission and she is forced to fend for herself. In her confusion, she is accused of being a witch and put on trial. While weeks are passing by for the main character, only a day goes by back home where her best friend is facing the storm of the century and trying to beat the odds.
This book just does not stop. It will get the blood pumping and there are no slow parts. It is a great read and quite the adventure! I loved every second of it and can't wait for the next two books in the trilogy! It's not something I would have picked up on my own so I am really glad that my box from Indie Book Connect sent it to me because it is one that I will likely re-read in the future.
If you are like me, you have probably fantasized what it would be like to live in a different time and country. Well, in Stealing Time, KJ Waters writes with such realism that you are able to actually do that. In this book, the main character's ass of a boyfriend sends her back to London in the 1700's without her knowledge or permission and she is forced to fend for herself. In her confusion, she is accused of being a witch and put on trial. While weeks are passing by for the main character, only a day goes by back home where her best friend is facing the storm of the century and trying to beat the odds.
This book just does not stop. It will get the blood pumping and there are no slow parts. It is a great read and quite the adventure! I loved every second of it and can't wait for the next two books in the trilogy! It's not something I would have picked up on my own so I am really glad that my box from Indie Book Connect sent it to me because it is one that I will likely re-read in the future.
April 1, 2017
I got this book in my March box from Indie Book Connect. (If you have subscribed yet, you should really look into it! The books are amazing!) The second I picked it up, it was almost impossible to put it back down again! Everything was so fast paced! The story line was great - although, as an animal lover, there were a few parts that were a little too realistic. The author did a great job of researching what the 1700's in England were really like rather than going with how the romance novels just gloss over everything and the storm felt so real that there were times I almost thought I needed to prepare my own house! All in all, this was a 5 star read! I really recommend it!
March 25, 2017
Not for the faint of heart! When KJ Waters says this book is going to be fast paced, it is time to pay attention! In this thrilling read, Ronnie's boyfriend Jeffrey uses the power of a hurricane to send her back in time to London 1700-ish without her knowledge where she is presumed to be a witch. Meanwhile, her best friend Steph is left behind in Florida to face the storm.
This book came autographed in my Indie Book Connect box and I was first intrigued by the awesome cover. The story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It is a trilogy but not all of the books are available yet. I will definitely be reading the rest of them the second they come out!!! This was a 5++++ star book! I LOVED it and highly recommend it!
This book came autographed in my Indie Book Connect box and I was first intrigued by the awesome cover. The story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It is a trilogy but not all of the books are available yet. I will definitely be reading the rest of them the second they come out!!! This was a 5++++ star book! I LOVED it and highly recommend it!
April 1, 2016
As an avid fan of ANYTHING 17th or 18th century AND once addicted (...maybe still) to Quantum Leap, when I stumbled across Stealing Time, by author KJ Waters, I couldn't resist adding it to my long list of things to do! Being a teacher, father of two and busy author myself, I find it very difficult to read as much as I would like, but once I began reading Stealing Time, it did not seem to be a challenge at all. The realistic mental imagery of 18th century London, perfectly mixed with the enticement of a perfect storm, time travel and spicy characters kept me on the edge of my seat. KJ Waters undoubtedly researched her history! I found her book to be historically refreshing and educational, rather than eye-rolling and inaccurate, which I have encountered in other "time-travelish" books.
Stealing Time is pleasantly packed with believable, well-developed characters worth investing your time with. They all keep you involved, and I applaud the Ms. Waters with the flawless way the characters differ based on the century they were from. This must have been a challenge.
If you are looking for a suspenseful, historical, witch-hunt of a journey - read STEALING TIME...and like me, you'll be impatiently waiting for round two.
Stealing Time is pleasantly packed with believable, well-developed characters worth investing your time with. They all keep you involved, and I applaud the Ms. Waters with the flawless way the characters differ based on the century they were from. This must have been a challenge.
If you are looking for a suspenseful, historical, witch-hunt of a journey - read STEALING TIME...and like me, you'll be impatiently waiting for round two.
January 10, 2017
This was a great read. I rate it 4.5 (rounding up to 5, since 1/2 points aren't available to me here). I was immediately sucked into the suspenseful storm of this story. I liked the fact that there were two simultaneous storylines running, one following Ronnie and the other following Steph. Just as I began to become too nervous for Ronnie, I was allowed a "break" by checking in on Steph. Then things would start to get pretty intense with her, and we'd flip back to Ronnie. I also really appreciated the amount of research Ms. Waters put into this project. Her depiction of the 18th century was very believable (reminding us just how lucky we are to live in modern times), as was the reality of riding out a major hurricane. The reason for my "1/2 point rating deduction" is the ending. Obviously with "Book 1" in the title, one can anticipate unfinished business at the end of the book. That being said, I expected to walk away from the book with some sense of completion, much like walking away from the 1st movies in the original Star Wars trilogy - unfinished business, but also some completion. The existing abrupt cliffhanger wouldn't have been so bad if there had been a warning in the book's description (as you sometimes find with other books). Write away, Ms. Waters; I anxiously await book 2!
August 6, 2015
Wow, K J Waters successfully keeps you turning the page and on the edge of your seat at the same time. Skillfully written, Stealing Time is a time travel adventure that has all the dramatic elements of a love story in the package of a fantasy thriller. The heroine, Ronnie, finds herself thrust back into a different time to an earlier century during a powerful Hurricane in Florida. But time travel is the least of her worries as she fights to prove who she is and return to her time before there are dire consequences. A very clever concept, nicely executed by a wonderful storyteller.
February 3, 2023
Wow, completely riveting in both it's aspects and so unexpected. This time travel historical fiction which is still immersed in the urban side is the first book in the series Stealing Time. It starts of with a hurricane hitting Florida where Ronnie and her friend Steph lived, and us seeing the friends leave one another, Steph to return to her home whilst Ronnie to visit the lab of her boyfriend who tricks her and sends her on the scariest of adventures ever. She wakes up in 1752 in England and from thereon her trials are just beginning. Being an American woman of the 20th century she is little versed in the behaviour expected of her in that era. She ends up being labelled a witch, in a highly superstitious time, whereby priests and doctors were still very backward and ready to please their rich and powerful patrons, in this case Jack Ingram, supposedly the brother of Regina Ingram the young woman whose body she somehow woke up in. The hurricane back in Florida devastates the area and poor Steph suffers the loss of her cat, but nothing compares to the horrors which Ronnie faces amongst the dregs of humanity in Newgate prison. This turn of events in the time travel genre makes this book an original one and one which kept me reading in fear for Ronnie's life. The descriptions of England in 1752 are amazing and put the reader right in the picture of this very scary time to have been alive. I cannot wait to read book 2 of this thrilling series.
June 26, 2016
I have three fairly basic criteria that will earn a book an instant 5-star review: It's makes me laugh, it makes me cry, and it keeps me up past my bedtime. As you have probably guessed, "Stealing Time" definitely hit the mark.
I also have tremendous respect for an author who takes nine years to bring a book to completion. Now, of course, this is really bad news if you have to wait that long for the next episode, which hopefully won't be the case! But IMHO, there's a certain richness that a novel achieves with time versus those that are kicked out in a few weeks. No offense to those who do so, of course, I'm probably just jealous, because I'm another one who takes a while to finish up a book. Sometimes much longer than nine years, but that's another story. What I'm getting at is the quality of the characters, imagery and plot details show when a book, like a fine wine, has aged a bit, giving the author time to rethink, embellish and perfect their story. Yeah. Like a fine wine.
As a time travel story, this one is outstanding. The mechanism that transfers the heroine, Ronnie, back in time is in the realm of science fiction, i.e., credible, but not belabored. Thus, this is not true science fiction fodder, but more in the realm for those who love historical fiction since the majority of the story takes place in 18th Century England with some flashbacks (or would it be flashforwards?) to Florida enduring Hurricane Charley, back in 2004, which precipitated the transfer.
The research for this period of time was incredible. The reader is truly transferred back in time to a world so different than ours it feels like another planet. If you don't think the world has made any progress in the past two hundred fifty years, you definitely need to read this book. While today's world definitely has its problems and fundamental human nature doesn't change, it's incredible to get a glimpse of what England was like back in 1752. Wow. I, for one, am reminded how lucky I am to be living in this century. There are plenty of undercover lessons here, too, with regard to superstitious and unreasonable beliefs that drive a culture, in this case the ridiculous view of what qualified a woman as a witch and how she was subsequently tried and treated. Chilling and horrifying are the first words that come to mind.
The imagery and action was absolutely breathtaking, especially the last fourth of the book, at which point I just sucked it up regardless of the late hour and finished. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, I knew everything wouldn't be solved, but it did provide a satisfying ending, though there were certainly plenty of unanswered questions to drive the reader's hunger for the next volume. I highly recommend this well-written story to anyone who loves a thriller, historical fiction or romanticizes the past. Believe me when I say we have come much farther than you may think.
I also have tremendous respect for an author who takes nine years to bring a book to completion. Now, of course, this is really bad news if you have to wait that long for the next episode, which hopefully won't be the case! But IMHO, there's a certain richness that a novel achieves with time versus those that are kicked out in a few weeks. No offense to those who do so, of course, I'm probably just jealous, because I'm another one who takes a while to finish up a book. Sometimes much longer than nine years, but that's another story. What I'm getting at is the quality of the characters, imagery and plot details show when a book, like a fine wine, has aged a bit, giving the author time to rethink, embellish and perfect their story. Yeah. Like a fine wine.
As a time travel story, this one is outstanding. The mechanism that transfers the heroine, Ronnie, back in time is in the realm of science fiction, i.e., credible, but not belabored. Thus, this is not true science fiction fodder, but more in the realm for those who love historical fiction since the majority of the story takes place in 18th Century England with some flashbacks (or would it be flashforwards?) to Florida enduring Hurricane Charley, back in 2004, which precipitated the transfer.
The research for this period of time was incredible. The reader is truly transferred back in time to a world so different than ours it feels like another planet. If you don't think the world has made any progress in the past two hundred fifty years, you definitely need to read this book. While today's world definitely has its problems and fundamental human nature doesn't change, it's incredible to get a glimpse of what England was like back in 1752. Wow. I, for one, am reminded how lucky I am to be living in this century. There are plenty of undercover lessons here, too, with regard to superstitious and unreasonable beliefs that drive a culture, in this case the ridiculous view of what qualified a woman as a witch and how she was subsequently tried and treated. Chilling and horrifying are the first words that come to mind.
The imagery and action was absolutely breathtaking, especially the last fourth of the book, at which point I just sucked it up regardless of the late hour and finished. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, I knew everything wouldn't be solved, but it did provide a satisfying ending, though there were certainly plenty of unanswered questions to drive the reader's hunger for the next volume. I highly recommend this well-written story to anyone who loves a thriller, historical fiction or romanticizes the past. Believe me when I say we have come much farther than you may think.
October 9, 2023
I was looking forward to reading this book as I am a fan of time travel and the book sounded interesting. That said, as I got into the story I found the language offensive as well as the sex talk! I am very disappointed and have skipped thru several pages but it continues so I have decided not to waste my time reading filth instead of a good science fiction time travel novel.
I would have liked to finish the book but I do not read books that contain this type of material.
Wish the author could have found a way to tell her story without bad language and descriptive sex.
I would have liked to finish the book but I do not read books that contain this type of material.
Wish the author could have found a way to tell her story without bad language and descriptive sex.
September 23, 2025
a tale of deception, time travel and storms Stealing Time is an all round good read. The story had me gripped from the beginning and the story intrigued me the whole way through a fabulously written book. I cannot wait to read the other books that will form this trilogy a definate must read!
I received a signed copy of this book from entering the goodreads giveaway and I am so thankful I did. I am sure I will pick up this book and enjoy reading it again and again!!
I received a signed copy of this book from entering the goodreads giveaway and I am so thankful I did. I am sure I will pick up this book and enjoy reading it again and again!!
January 14, 2018
Great read...waiting for its' continuation
Thoroughly enjoyed Stealing Time. Not my usual genre, but once getting the characters in my head, I had to discover the outcomes. Well written, engaging. Now awaiting the next part - as I can't imagine how Mathias is to enter the twenty first century! Go KJ!
Thoroughly enjoyed Stealing Time. Not my usual genre, but once getting the characters in my head, I had to discover the outcomes. Well written, engaging. Now awaiting the next part - as I can't imagine how Mathias is to enter the twenty first century! Go KJ!
May 31, 2022
How could I not love this book? I mean, look at the synopsis! Time travel? Hurricanes? Yes, please! Ronnie Andrews has moved to Florida, and now she’s facing a major hurricane in Charley. Her friend Steph is going to stay with her, but Ronnie bails on Steph when her troll of a boyfriend, Jeffrey, asks her to come to the lab where he’s working on some weather-related experiment. He tempts her with the promise of a birthday surprise and says the lab will be much safer than her house.
BAHAHAHAHAHA no. No, the lab won’t be safer. Unbeknowst to Ronnie, Jeffrey plans to use her as his human subject in a time travel experiment that needs the energy of the hurricane to power it. The special watch he gives her as her birthday gift, that he had custom made, has something to do with it, as do the drugs he slips into her birthday dinner. Ronnie starts feeling queasy, and when she heads for the bathroom, she finds her consciousness sucked from her body and transported into someone else’s body, in England, in the mid-18th century. Talk about an unpleasant birthday surprise.
So, we establish right up front that Jeffrey is a horrible person. He draws Ronnie to the lab under false pretenses, drugs her, and sends her back in time without her knowledge or consent, to an era where women were little more than property. And sending her with the watch as her only link to getting back, in a time where a device like that would be seen as some kind of sorcery?! He’s a creep and an idiot and is putting his experiment far above Ronnie’s well-being. Some boyfriend. I hope she ditches him, assuming she makes it back to her time alive.
And that’s debatable. Eighteenth-century England was not known for the rights it afforded women. Ronnie’s physical body doesn’t show up in modern clothing so as to clearly draw attention to herself, but rather she jumps into the body of one Regina Ingram, a la Quantum Leap. She’s unable to convince Regina’s brother Jack that she is his sweet, biddable teenage sister, and sure enough, she finds herself imprisoned on charges of witchcraft. A cousin, Mathias, falls for her, as she seems to do for him, and he tries to help her. I don’t think he’s who he seems, though, as his German accent is inconsistent and he falls out of 18th-century speech patterns at times. I’m curious to find out who exactly he is, because every time he tries to help Ronnie, it seems to make things worse.
There were some things about the book that stuck in my craw just a little. Early on in the book, there is one somewhat detailed sex scene between Ronnie and Jeffrey. That isn’t my jam when it comes to reading. I’m okay with the adult action being implied and taking place offscreen, as it were, but I’d rather not read a description with any significant graphic details. If that’s something that bothers you, be mindful. However, it is just the one scene, and you can skim over it without losing the thread of the story. And I realize that folks’ definition of what constitutes graphic detail will vary.
Waters writes out Mathias’ German accent. I found this distracting as I was reading, especially as it wasn’t consistent. I would rather have been told where he was from and then mentally created his accent for myself. Then there was the fact that when Ronnie goes to the lab, she leaves her cat, Fluffy, at home. We have cats, y’all. We took them with us when we evacuated ahead of Hurricane Ida last year. If you’re evacuating ahead of rough weather, never, never leave your furbabies behind. Ronnie thinks Jeffrey wouldn’t want Fluffy at the lab, so that’s why she walked away from her cat (that, and I think she was lured by him buttering her up and making her feel special for her birthday – in a hurricane). That should tell her he is not to be trusted.
But there are plenty of things I do like! Waters does a great job with her historical setting, including some pretty stout descriptions of bloodletting, prison conditions, and hanging. The story evokes strong emotion, and I am absolutely sucked in wanting to know what happens in book two. That’s what a good story does, right? Stealing Time earns four stars for keeping me engaged, for good historical detail, and for making me care what happens to Ronnie next.If she stays with Jeffrey in book two, I swear to goodness, I may throw the book across the room.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
BAHAHAHAHAHA no. No, the lab won’t be safer. Unbeknowst to Ronnie, Jeffrey plans to use her as his human subject in a time travel experiment that needs the energy of the hurricane to power it. The special watch he gives her as her birthday gift, that he had custom made, has something to do with it, as do the drugs he slips into her birthday dinner. Ronnie starts feeling queasy, and when she heads for the bathroom, she finds her consciousness sucked from her body and transported into someone else’s body, in England, in the mid-18th century. Talk about an unpleasant birthday surprise.
So, we establish right up front that Jeffrey is a horrible person. He draws Ronnie to the lab under false pretenses, drugs her, and sends her back in time without her knowledge or consent, to an era where women were little more than property. And sending her with the watch as her only link to getting back, in a time where a device like that would be seen as some kind of sorcery?! He’s a creep and an idiot and is putting his experiment far above Ronnie’s well-being. Some boyfriend. I hope she ditches him, assuming she makes it back to her time alive.
And that’s debatable. Eighteenth-century England was not known for the rights it afforded women. Ronnie’s physical body doesn’t show up in modern clothing so as to clearly draw attention to herself, but rather she jumps into the body of one Regina Ingram, a la Quantum Leap. She’s unable to convince Regina’s brother Jack that she is his sweet, biddable teenage sister, and sure enough, she finds herself imprisoned on charges of witchcraft. A cousin, Mathias, falls for her, as she seems to do for him, and he tries to help her. I don’t think he’s who he seems, though, as his German accent is inconsistent and he falls out of 18th-century speech patterns at times. I’m curious to find out who exactly he is, because every time he tries to help Ronnie, it seems to make things worse.
There were some things about the book that stuck in my craw just a little. Early on in the book, there is one somewhat detailed sex scene between Ronnie and Jeffrey. That isn’t my jam when it comes to reading. I’m okay with the adult action being implied and taking place offscreen, as it were, but I’d rather not read a description with any significant graphic details. If that’s something that bothers you, be mindful. However, it is just the one scene, and you can skim over it without losing the thread of the story. And I realize that folks’ definition of what constitutes graphic detail will vary.
Waters writes out Mathias’ German accent. I found this distracting as I was reading, especially as it wasn’t consistent. I would rather have been told where he was from and then mentally created his accent for myself. Then there was the fact that when Ronnie goes to the lab, she leaves her cat, Fluffy, at home. We have cats, y’all. We took them with us when we evacuated ahead of Hurricane Ida last year. If you’re evacuating ahead of rough weather, never, never leave your furbabies behind. Ronnie thinks Jeffrey wouldn’t want Fluffy at the lab, so that’s why she walked away from her cat (that, and I think she was lured by him buttering her up and making her feel special for her birthday – in a hurricane). That should tell her he is not to be trusted.
But there are plenty of things I do like! Waters does a great job with her historical setting, including some pretty stout descriptions of bloodletting, prison conditions, and hanging. The story evokes strong emotion, and I am absolutely sucked in wanting to know what happens in book two. That’s what a good story does, right? Stealing Time earns four stars for keeping me engaged, for good historical detail, and for making me care what happens to Ronnie next.If she stays with Jeffrey in book two, I swear to goodness, I may throw the book across the room.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
July 19, 2015
I was intrigued by the blurb on this book, especially as it mentioned Hurricane Charley which I experienced in 2004, so although it’s not the sort of book I would normally read, I was interested enough to give it a go and I’m glad I did.
The concept of the plot was very original and I liked the way Waters constructed the method for the time travel to take place. She weaved the plot well and it certainly kept me turning the pages. KJ had certainly done her research about London and the time period. Factually it was very accurate, especially when it came to how women were treated more as chattels to be sold into a loveless marriage to advance the standing or financial position of the family. She’d also done her homework on what happened to women who were accused of witchcraft. The detail she included gave the reader an accurate picture, but I’m glad to say there wasn’t an info dump. The author intertwined it with the plot so it read as a natural progression within the story.
The detail included in the hurricane scenes was scarily realistic. Trees crashing through roofs, bringing down power lines, loss of power and water – these were all things I remembered only too well!
The main character, Ronnie, was well crafted. She had depth, was realistic, and relatable. When Ronnie became Regina, after the time travel incident, the confusion and desperation she felt was palpable – something which isn’t easy to achieve without over-emphasising. However, the author accomplished it with ease. I enjoyed the blossoming love between Ronnie/Regina and Matthias and I hope they meet again in the future. Matthias was the perfect gentleman, perhaps a little too perfect, but I liked him just the same. Jack, Regina’s brother, on the other hand, was a monster and I had a hard time believing parts of his story. I couldn’t understand how a man could treat his sister in such a horrendous way and then denounce her as a witch and all because she didn’t encourage the suitor of an arranged marriage. It seemed to me that his behaviour was way too extreme for the circumstances, which made his character less realistic.
The supporting cast were well thought out and, for the most part, likeable. Jeffery wasn’t a character I warmed to, probably because he used Ronnie for his own ends and was cheating on her too. Those directly involved in the Hurricane Charley part of the story showed myriad emotions and reacted as most people would under the same circumstances; this was very well done. I particularly liked the two main characters in this section.
The writing flowed nicely, the story lines were easy to follow, and the descriptions of places and events were extremely well written, without going over-the-top.
My only real criticism was that the proof reader didn’t do the greatest of jobs, which lost it a star from me. However, this didn’t spoil my enjoyment too much. Overall, this was a page turner for me; I found myself invested in the story and characters to the extent that I really want to get my hands on book two. For a debut novel, I would have to say this is one of the best I’ve read in a while and would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased and honest review.
The concept of the plot was very original and I liked the way Waters constructed the method for the time travel to take place. She weaved the plot well and it certainly kept me turning the pages. KJ had certainly done her research about London and the time period. Factually it was very accurate, especially when it came to how women were treated more as chattels to be sold into a loveless marriage to advance the standing or financial position of the family. She’d also done her homework on what happened to women who were accused of witchcraft. The detail she included gave the reader an accurate picture, but I’m glad to say there wasn’t an info dump. The author intertwined it with the plot so it read as a natural progression within the story.
The detail included in the hurricane scenes was scarily realistic. Trees crashing through roofs, bringing down power lines, loss of power and water – these were all things I remembered only too well!
The main character, Ronnie, was well crafted. She had depth, was realistic, and relatable. When Ronnie became Regina, after the time travel incident, the confusion and desperation she felt was palpable – something which isn’t easy to achieve without over-emphasising. However, the author accomplished it with ease. I enjoyed the blossoming love between Ronnie/Regina and Matthias and I hope they meet again in the future. Matthias was the perfect gentleman, perhaps a little too perfect, but I liked him just the same. Jack, Regina’s brother, on the other hand, was a monster and I had a hard time believing parts of his story. I couldn’t understand how a man could treat his sister in such a horrendous way and then denounce her as a witch and all because she didn’t encourage the suitor of an arranged marriage. It seemed to me that his behaviour was way too extreme for the circumstances, which made his character less realistic.
The supporting cast were well thought out and, for the most part, likeable. Jeffery wasn’t a character I warmed to, probably because he used Ronnie for his own ends and was cheating on her too. Those directly involved in the Hurricane Charley part of the story showed myriad emotions and reacted as most people would under the same circumstances; this was very well done. I particularly liked the two main characters in this section.
The writing flowed nicely, the story lines were easy to follow, and the descriptions of places and events were extremely well written, without going over-the-top.
My only real criticism was that the proof reader didn’t do the greatest of jobs, which lost it a star from me. However, this didn’t spoil my enjoyment too much. Overall, this was a page turner for me; I found myself invested in the story and characters to the extent that I really want to get my hands on book two. For a debut novel, I would have to say this is one of the best I’ve read in a while and would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased and honest review.
January 19, 2025
Good for a new author's first draft
I finished reading it, but some days I wondered why. First, from a copy edit stand point, there are lots of errors that could be fixed by a good proofreading. This manuscript was not ready for publishing yet, and it baffles me that it was published years before I got it, has reviews from the year it was published saying there's errors, and the author hasn't fixed them yet.
From a plot point, it needs tightening. I see the concept the author was going for, but it could be crafted better. There's several stories going on here and they aren't presented to the reader in a way that makes sense. Many times I was left wondering why? What's the point of this bit? How does it pertain to the story? For example, the prologue. We never hear of that guy again. Maybe that bit would be better as a flashback prologue in the book that character actually appears in? The lab boyfriend - maybe a few more sections sprinkled throughout showing what he's doing the entire time Ronnie is gone would help it make more sense.
Characters were not fully fleshed out. There's a lot of random exposition when the current plot point requires the character to have a skill or knowledge. I felt like it was too convenient she just happened to know that right then while 100 pages prior she was seemingly oblivious that topic existed. The character is stated to be turning 28 but she behaves like a 20 year old on spring break. The best friend starts that way as well. At 28 with a master's degree and buying a house I feel the characters would be more mature than they're presented.
The concept is good, I think it has a lot of potential, and I think the author did a fine job...for a first draft. It needs some polish. In its current state, I won't be spending money to buy book 2, but I am curious to find out how the story progresses and ends. It's left me torn. If there weren't so many typographical errors, I'd have given the third star, but those are easily fixed and they weren't.
I finished reading it, but some days I wondered why. First, from a copy edit stand point, there are lots of errors that could be fixed by a good proofreading. This manuscript was not ready for publishing yet, and it baffles me that it was published years before I got it, has reviews from the year it was published saying there's errors, and the author hasn't fixed them yet.
From a plot point, it needs tightening. I see the concept the author was going for, but it could be crafted better. There's several stories going on here and they aren't presented to the reader in a way that makes sense. Many times I was left wondering why? What's the point of this bit? How does it pertain to the story? For example, the prologue. We never hear of that guy again. Maybe that bit would be better as a flashback prologue in the book that character actually appears in? The lab boyfriend - maybe a few more sections sprinkled throughout showing what he's doing the entire time Ronnie is gone would help it make more sense.
Characters were not fully fleshed out. There's a lot of random exposition when the current plot point requires the character to have a skill or knowledge. I felt like it was too convenient she just happened to know that right then while 100 pages prior she was seemingly oblivious that topic existed. The character is stated to be turning 28 but she behaves like a 20 year old on spring break. The best friend starts that way as well. At 28 with a master's degree and buying a house I feel the characters would be more mature than they're presented.
The concept is good, I think it has a lot of potential, and I think the author did a fine job...for a first draft. It needs some polish. In its current state, I won't be spending money to buy book 2, but I am curious to find out how the story progresses and ends. It's left me torn. If there weren't so many typographical errors, I'd have given the third star, but those are easily fixed and they weren't.
January 14, 2019
First in the Stealing Time Trilogy science fiction time travel series.
My Take
The basic premise of the story was good, but Waters really needs to learn about the time period, track continuity, hire a proofreader who understands about words that Waters has confused as well as the poor punctuation, smooth out her sentences, and create some depth to the main story as well as to Steph and Nick's story.
So much of the writing was juvenile. Lord, I wanted to throw the damn thing when Steph and Nick keep seeking "refuge" one to two houses away from this roaring fire. I mean, when a fire is bearing down on you, why would you leave moving out of the threatened house until the last minute? Why would Steph be concentrating on packing her birthday dress, makeup, and jewelry and then claim she's so concerned about her cat, that she doesn't start looking for until the last moment? Stupid people.
And learn the difference between possessive and plural!!
On the plus side, Waters does toss out those cliffhangers: the changing men who don't quite appear to be of this time, the alternative history of the time Ronnie goes back to, and the prediction that Mathias and Ronnie would be together in another time. And those bits of suspense are not enough to encourage me to suffer through book 2.
My Take
The basic premise of the story was good, but Waters really needs to learn about the time period, track continuity, hire a proofreader who understands about words that Waters has confused as well as the poor punctuation, smooth out her sentences, and create some depth to the main story as well as to Steph and Nick's story.
So much of the writing was juvenile. Lord, I wanted to throw the damn thing when Steph and Nick keep seeking "refuge" one to two houses away from this roaring fire. I mean, when a fire is bearing down on you, why would you leave moving out of the threatened house until the last minute? Why would Steph be concentrating on packing her birthday dress, makeup, and jewelry and then claim she's so concerned about her cat, that she doesn't start looking for until the last moment? Stupid people.
And learn the difference between possessive and plural!!
On the plus side, Waters does toss out those cliffhangers: the changing men who don't quite appear to be of this time, the alternative history of the time Ronnie goes back to, and the prediction that Mathias and Ronnie would be together in another time. And those bits of suspense are not enough to encourage me to suffer through book 2.
October 31, 2024
Needs fixing
Some bad grammar. Weird verb choices. An abundance of adverbs instead of action—too much telling and not enough showing. Stilted dialogue. Unlikable characters all around because there are no real character arcs. Mechanical sex scenes that come too early in the story, and do nothing but alienate you from relating to the characters. A prologue that connects nowhere in the story. Plus two other story lines—present and historical—that never intersect nor make sense together. The present day story line could be cut altogether and the book would be better for it.
That’s the downside.
The upside is the general action outline for the historical portion of the story could’ve been extremely interesting. All it needed before publishing was some good beta readers who are used to reading good fiction and willing to give concrete feedback along with a professional story editor to tighten it all up.
In short, this reads more like a first or second draft manuscript and not a finished piece ready for publication.
Some bad grammar. Weird verb choices. An abundance of adverbs instead of action—too much telling and not enough showing. Stilted dialogue. Unlikable characters all around because there are no real character arcs. Mechanical sex scenes that come too early in the story, and do nothing but alienate you from relating to the characters. A prologue that connects nowhere in the story. Plus two other story lines—present and historical—that never intersect nor make sense together. The present day story line could be cut altogether and the book would be better for it.
That’s the downside.
The upside is the general action outline for the historical portion of the story could’ve been extremely interesting. All it needed before publishing was some good beta readers who are used to reading good fiction and willing to give concrete feedback along with a professional story editor to tighten it all up.
In short, this reads more like a first or second draft manuscript and not a finished piece ready for publication.
April 2, 2016
...an intricately woven story with compelling strands... at the height of a powerful hurricane in Florida, a time warp envelops the lead female character, hurtling her across time and continents... from the modern day back to the eighteenth century, and transporting her to Olde London... but there’s more intriguing changes... her identity subsumes from her current persona to a completely different woman...even her appearance is altered... the single constant is her own mind, and therein lies the plot... dreadful, terrifying circumstances impact her new form with accusations from her ‘brother’ of witchcraft, leading to trials and travails of prison and impending death by hanging... but all is not completely lost... a distant ‘cousin�� emerges to attempt to rescue her... back in the present, the hurricane continues to rage with deft switching of scenes, stealing time twixt the old and the new... a clever novel, and a great tester for the ensuing books in the trilogy...
February 11, 2015
Roller coaster of a book that had me hooked. The 18th century London scenes are very well researched and written , and authentic in every detail. I really felt the past come alive. From the very beginning things go awry, and I was constantly wondering how the heroine was going to get herself back to the present. Great historical characters that were truly believable and in many cases hateful and cruel. I guess those were tough times!
Things just keep going from bad to worse. Waters mastered the pacing, drama and tension wonderfully. So many times I thought the worst was over for Ronnie and she landed right back into danger. Great story, right up to the end, and a fascinating hint at a mystery that will probably pan out in the sequels.
Super time travel book, especially if 18th century England interests you. Buy it.
Things just keep going from bad to worse. Waters mastered the pacing, drama and tension wonderfully. So many times I thought the worst was over for Ronnie and she landed right back into danger. Great story, right up to the end, and a fascinating hint at a mystery that will probably pan out in the sequels.
Super time travel book, especially if 18th century England interests you. Buy it.
July 3, 2022
"A quick flash of Ronnie’s naked body and her orgasm face reminded him that it had been worth it."
Orgasm face. Really?
I wanted to like this book, but awkward phrasing no one would say, typos, and painfully bad writing gave me the perfect reason to toss this one in the DNF pile.
Orgasm face. Really?
I wanted to like this book, but awkward phrasing no one would say, typos, and painfully bad writing gave me the perfect reason to toss this one in the DNF pile.
August 31, 2023
I’m utterly baffled at the good reviews of this book. This book was absolutely appalling. I couldn’t even finish it.
January 21, 2024
I didn't finish this. I got to 20% and it felt like I was reading one of my wife's romance novels.
This is not what I expected from a Time Travel novel.
This is not what I expected from a Time Travel novel.
June 3, 2022
“A dramatic situation required a dramatic solution.”
Stealing Time by KJ Waters is Book One in the Stealing Time Series, and boy does it deliver! Jeffrey Brennan and Ronnie Andrews are dating, and when Hurricane Charley hits Orlando, Florida, in 2004, Jeffrey uses the storm’s power to secretly test his time travel science and invention on Ronnie. She lands squarely in another woman’s body in 1752 London. What could go wrong during a time when superstition was the norm?
This book is incredibly compelling and gripping. Most of the plot takes place in the past, with Ronnie struggling to avoid the hangman’s noose after being accused of witchery. She does meet a man, Mathias, who helps her as much as he can, and the instant connection between the two is both sweet and heartbreaking. Will they ever see each other again as the fortuneteller foretells? I hope so!
“You are not going to lose me. We are at the very beginning of us.”
As for Ronnie’s present love interest, Jeffery is simply not a nice guy, with his despicable scheme of using Ronnie to test his time travel invention. While he is manipulative and self-centered, he does try hard to bring Ronnie back to 2004 Florida in one piece. Still, good luck finding any redeeming qualities in this man.
KJ Waters certainly hit a home run with Stealing Time. The action, both in 2004 during the hurricane and the historical action in 1752, are off-the-charts captivating. The pace of Stealing Time is lightning quick, so be ready to start reading Book Two, Shattering Time, immediately after. This time travel series is definitely a must read, but watch out for the spicy scenes and female objectification if you are easily offended. The overall exciting plot and most of the characters somewhat push that sexy sizzle and male-dominant archetypes to the edge, but they are there, nonetheless.
Jump right into this series by reading the books in order, starting with Stealing Time, and be ready to be thoroughly entertained.
Stealing Time by KJ Waters is Book One in the Stealing Time Series, and boy does it deliver! Jeffrey Brennan and Ronnie Andrews are dating, and when Hurricane Charley hits Orlando, Florida, in 2004, Jeffrey uses the storm’s power to secretly test his time travel science and invention on Ronnie. She lands squarely in another woman’s body in 1752 London. What could go wrong during a time when superstition was the norm?
This book is incredibly compelling and gripping. Most of the plot takes place in the past, with Ronnie struggling to avoid the hangman’s noose after being accused of witchery. She does meet a man, Mathias, who helps her as much as he can, and the instant connection between the two is both sweet and heartbreaking. Will they ever see each other again as the fortuneteller foretells? I hope so!
“You are not going to lose me. We are at the very beginning of us.”
As for Ronnie’s present love interest, Jeffery is simply not a nice guy, with his despicable scheme of using Ronnie to test his time travel invention. While he is manipulative and self-centered, he does try hard to bring Ronnie back to 2004 Florida in one piece. Still, good luck finding any redeeming qualities in this man.
KJ Waters certainly hit a home run with Stealing Time. The action, both in 2004 during the hurricane and the historical action in 1752, are off-the-charts captivating. The pace of Stealing Time is lightning quick, so be ready to start reading Book Two, Shattering Time, immediately after. This time travel series is definitely a must read, but watch out for the spicy scenes and female objectification if you are easily offended. The overall exciting plot and most of the characters somewhat push that sexy sizzle and male-dominant archetypes to the edge, but they are there, nonetheless.
Jump right into this series by reading the books in order, starting with Stealing Time, and be ready to be thoroughly entertained.
November 15, 2017
This author starts us right out with action. We start the book at the beginning of a hurricane. Ronnie and Steph should stayed together through the storm. Ronnie decided to goes see Jeffrey as his underground lab. Jeffrey maybe Ronnie's boyfriend, but Steph sure doesn't like him. Stephen goes home to prepare, with no Ronnie, she waits for her friend, Nick to keep her company through hurcane Charley. Ronnie's east a birthday dinner Jeffrey has spiked with something weird. Steph's cat gets out. This is where chaos starts for both girls. Oh and it does get interesting, but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out. I like the Ronnie's living in 1753 , at the same time is in current times so there like events are told consecutively. I like some of the people Ronnie meets in 1752 feel to her like she knows them, so it eludes to the idea she will she them again. I think Steph's storing was interesting with the events of the hurricane as well. The cover matches the book perfectly. This is well written. It's well thought out and well put together. The storyline flows freely from beginning to end. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger, but book 2 is already out!
August 1, 2018
Awesome start to the series! Great job KJ Waters!
March 19, 2021
An intense, time traveling story that's well written and extremely interesting characters.
Want to read
May 17, 2019TheFussyLibrarian
June 1, 2022
With its bananas time-travel plot, whirlwind-fast pace, and considerable evidence of diligent research, Stealing Time is one heck of an entertaining read.
Read my full review on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.
Read my full review on my blog Carpe Diem Chronicles.
August 17, 2021
I rate this book 4 1/2 stars.
This book is intriguing, suspenseful, mind boggling, a page turner and so much more.
I recommend this book and will read again.
This book is intriguing, suspenseful, mind boggling, a page turner and so much more.
I recommend this book and will read again.
August 17, 2017
I won this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. I'm really thankful to the author for sending it to me. Here's my review on it.
The book starts with the prologue in which the storm is already taking place. It gripped me straight away, no slow beginning which is really good. Also Ronnie went to the past quite quickly too.
The narration moves from Ronnie (the girl who fell into the past) and her friend Steph. Steph's chapters were really short and there were a lot less of them than Ronnie's chapters. Although, further into the book, Steph's chapters seemed unnecessary. It was kind of interesting to see how she and her friend were dealing with the storm but the smal snippets just didn't give much information. They felt out of place. When things just started to pick up, I was hooked, the chapter ends with a cliff hanger but then the next chapter is about Steph! And that made me much less excited to read about Ronnie in the next chapter because the actions slowed down again.
The past felt real. Her reaction was realistic. She doesn't only find herself back in the past, there's also something else that adds more to the story and makes it more intriguing. It wasn't explained why though, perhaps it will be in the next books from the series.
I liked learning more about the 18th century, how medicine was at the time, what doctors and people believed in, hygiene, food and other things, it made me think about it, and it was fascinating to read about. Although it is not usual romantic representation of the past centuries, it was, I guess, much more real. But to me it wasn't an advantage. I love books set in the past, and things in there are usually described much nicer. Whilst in this book I didn't enjoy reading about it. The author could have mentioned at least one or two good things (that's just my personal taste though). So if you are looking for a typical romantic time travel book, this one is probably not for you. Although I liked the romance element in this book, it is well done.
The thing that I enjoyed the least is slang and swearing. I'm personally not a fan. It puts me off and it is not pleasant to read. Even when Ronnie is in the past, and no one uses slang or swearing, they are mostly being polite, she keeps doing that. I think everyone would have stopped it already and started to behave properly. Ronnie is just showing that she is bad mannered.
There are a few violence moments, not too much and not too detailed, but it still made me feel uncomfortable to read it.
There are so many pisprints and missing punctuation in this book as well.
I didn't connect with any of the characters. One of the characters I just hated so much (he is supposed to be unlikable) but because of him, I would stuggle to continue reading. He is horrible. My favourite character would be Mathias. He is very kind, loyal and all the other good things.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. I really liked the concept of it, I found it interesting in some places and I'm curious about what's going to happen in the next books. But it took me a month to read. I found the pacing were slow, and not much happened in the book. It doesn't go farther than Ronnie being accused for witchcraft. That's literally the whole book. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it was a standalone, because many things could have just been cut out or just move much faster. I struggle to rate this book. Somewhere in between 2 and 3. But many people seem to like it a lot, so maybe you should give it a go.
The book starts with the prologue in which the storm is already taking place. It gripped me straight away, no slow beginning which is really good. Also Ronnie went to the past quite quickly too.
The narration moves from Ronnie (the girl who fell into the past) and her friend Steph. Steph's chapters were really short and there were a lot less of them than Ronnie's chapters. Although, further into the book, Steph's chapters seemed unnecessary. It was kind of interesting to see how she and her friend were dealing with the storm but the smal snippets just didn't give much information. They felt out of place. When things just started to pick up, I was hooked, the chapter ends with a cliff hanger but then the next chapter is about Steph! And that made me much less excited to read about Ronnie in the next chapter because the actions slowed down again.
The past felt real. Her reaction was realistic. She doesn't only find herself back in the past, there's also something else that adds more to the story and makes it more intriguing. It wasn't explained why though, perhaps it will be in the next books from the series.
I liked learning more about the 18th century, how medicine was at the time, what doctors and people believed in, hygiene, food and other things, it made me think about it, and it was fascinating to read about. Although it is not usual romantic representation of the past centuries, it was, I guess, much more real. But to me it wasn't an advantage. I love books set in the past, and things in there are usually described much nicer. Whilst in this book I didn't enjoy reading about it. The author could have mentioned at least one or two good things (that's just my personal taste though). So if you are looking for a typical romantic time travel book, this one is probably not for you. Although I liked the romance element in this book, it is well done.
The thing that I enjoyed the least is slang and swearing. I'm personally not a fan. It puts me off and it is not pleasant to read. Even when Ronnie is in the past, and no one uses slang or swearing, they are mostly being polite, she keeps doing that. I think everyone would have stopped it already and started to behave properly. Ronnie is just showing that she is bad mannered.
There are a few violence moments, not too much and not too detailed, but it still made me feel uncomfortable to read it.
There are so many pisprints and missing punctuation in this book as well.
I didn't connect with any of the characters. One of the characters I just hated so much (he is supposed to be unlikable) but because of him, I would stuggle to continue reading. He is horrible. My favourite character would be Mathias. He is very kind, loyal and all the other good things.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. I really liked the concept of it, I found it interesting in some places and I'm curious about what's going to happen in the next books. But it took me a month to read. I found the pacing were slow, and not much happened in the book. It doesn't go farther than Ronnie being accused for witchcraft. That's literally the whole book. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it was a standalone, because many things could have just been cut out or just move much faster. I struggle to rate this book. Somewhere in between 2 and 3. But many people seem to like it a lot, so maybe you should give it a go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews