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Time Travel #1

The Lincoln Penny

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New Cover: The Lincoln Penny

History geek Jane Peterson just hit the refresh button on her life when, during a Civil War reenactment, she is thrust into a raging siege with brutal consequences. 2012 resets to 1862 amid the colorful, historic characters of Savannah, Georgia and bloodiest conflict in American history.

Jane's ghostly appearance is a bad omen to the doomed soldiers at Fort Pulaski. In a chilling twist of fate she is compelled to cross hostile enemy lines and seek shelter with strangers. Realizing the impact of her knowledge and horrors of Civil War medicine, Jane's dream of rescue becomes a deep desire to save others. In a story of good and evil, murder and intrigue, grave reality and the supernatural, she must face the grim truth that loving history and living it are two entirely different things.

Vanished on her 24th birthday without a trace! Med student Bryce McKenzie and Jane Peterson have shared a unique bond since childhood. But when exactly did she capture his heart? Refusing to accept Jane's death, Bryce vows never to give up on the girl he loves. With the help of Sophie Downing, the only witness to Jane's freak disappearance, he searches for the key to unlock an impossible mystery.

477 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2014

93 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

About the author

Barbara Best

3 books29 followers
Barbara Best's 430-page sci-fi romance books—compared by readers to Outlander and Gone With The Wind—have all the elements of a well-defined and extremely entertaining drama with 5-star reviews. Barbara began her career as a copywriter and artist, with over twenty-five years in the fields of Marketing and Graphic Design. Beginning in 2014, she took her love of writing to new heights with her debut novel, The Lincoln Penny. As her loyal fans asked for more, The Lover's Eye (Book 2) and The Celtic Key (Book 3) soon followed in her time-travel series. With an innate ability to blend authentic detail with imaginative speculation, Barbara is a living-history participant and American Civil War Reenactor. Her experiences at national battlefield events and forts that played huge roles during the Civil War brought the past to life and formed the backdrop for her absorbing and heartwarming tales. Barbara resides in the sunny State of Florida with her family and friends.

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5 stars
28 (29%)
4 stars
30 (31%)
3 stars
25 (26%)
2 stars
7 (7%)
1 star
4 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Pamela Allegretto.
Author 2 books118 followers
February 6, 2018
Ms. Best’s meticulous research is evident on every page of this artistically crafted, prose. None of my senses was left wanting. Each character was compelling and well-drawn out, including the Civil War, which Ms. Best expertly depicted as a key antagonist in this unique drama. You needn’t be a history aficionado nor a time-travel enthusiast to appreciate and enjoy this creative step back into history. However, if you are a follower of this era or this hypothesis, you will be in your element.
Profile Image for Debra  Lucas.
256 reviews31 followers
May 3, 2017
I read the novel: THE LINCOLN PENNY: A TIME TRAVEL SERIES ~ BOOK ONE; and I am now, anxiously waiting for BOOK TWO to arrive in the mail. Barbara Best has written a remarkably entertaining book!! Jane Peterson becomes friends with a couple who are Civil War Re-enactment participants. It's like a hobby for many people, but for others it becomes an obsession. Jane, with Sophie's help makes an authentic period dress, corset, and all the many petticoats that go under it. They hunt the antique stores around Savanah for correct period accessories. Jane is no stranger to antiques, her Dad, Art, has been an antique shopper or picker all his adult life. He gave Jane an 1800's jewelry box for her birthday; it has a hidden compartment in the bottom, with two keys in it. One went to the jewelry box and the other is a bigger key to a door....somewhere!?! Sophie gives Jane a chatelaine, to wear on her waist, like women of that period did to keep their keys on. The next re-enactment is going to be at Fort Pulaski, right outside Savanah on the coast. Jane takes her jewelry box with her, and hooks her key to her chatelaine. The excitement is running high that night at a special dinner and dance in the restored fort. Later in the evening Jane and Sophie walk around and find a locked door in the old storage rooms. Jane decides to try her key in the lock, just for fun...and after several tries....that door opens and....... Jane is swept right out of 2012 into 1862. When she wakes up screaming, some soldiers bring her out of the storage room, and up to a room in the fort. Wait a minute, though, what is the booming noise...it sounds like there's something hitting the walls. A Confederate soldier tells her it's the Union cannons firing on them. WHAT! IT SEEMS SO REAL! She's taken to Sargeant Olmstead, the man in charge, who wants to know how she got there? She says she doesn't remember what happened. Sargeant Olmsted puts her to work doing some nursing. His Adjutant Matthew Hopkins has gotten some shrapnel in his eye, and the Doctor is too busy trying to save the dying to look at it. Jane takes care of picking out the pieces and stitching him up. He's so grateful because she likely saved his eye. When the Union takes the fort......Matthew sends Jane with a servant and letter to his home in Savanah. What is going to happen to Jane ? Will she actually be stuck in 1862? Her family and friends, what will they think?
Best is a wonderful author, and her characters are so very well-written that they make this story! Jane has a difficult time trying to act and talk like a Southern Lady of the day. However, it's her sweet nature and other fine attributes that will make her well liked, anyway! The Lincoln Penny...how and what is the meaning of the title for this story? If you like time travel books; then you're going to LOVE THIS SERIES! I am thrilled to have found these novels! I expect they will all be as excellently written as this first one is. The third book is coming out before too long I've heard. So don't wait,,,,order this series TODAY. I am enthralled with Barbara Best's writing and research, and I promise that you will be, too!!
Profile Image for H.M. Holten.
Author 4 books53 followers
December 24, 2020
Time-Travel: Between Now and Savanna During the Civil War
An antique casket, a mysterious key, and a modern penny are part of this time-travel extravaganza. Jane Peterson is a normal girl in normal 2012. She is also a history geek and as a friend invites her to a Civil War re-enacting for her birthday, she happily prepares by making a costume. She takes her father’s birthday present, an antique jewellery box with her. In this box, she finds a key and carries it with her to the evening re-enactment party. Late in the evening, she opens a door and somehow gets transported back in time and into a raging battle.
It is beyond question that Ms Best did her research. She fills her narrative with detail that will interest a historically interested audience. What one might question is her narrative style. Why? One reason is the third person present tense and omniscient point of view. Sometimes Ms Best forgets in which tense she writes and that is unlucky. Other than that, she presents an interesting and captivating period, her characters are pleasant, but my greatest bugbear is the set up for another book in the series. It would be reassuring if authors like Ms Best would feel certain that they’ve engendered enough interest in their characters and ideas to sell volume two without leaving an obvious hook.
6 reviews
January 21, 2016
The Lincoln Penny is the first in the A Time Travels Series. The next doesn't come out I believe until Spring 2016. This was a crushing blow of a revelation. I want to read it today. I want to know what happens. I may have just gained a love of historical fiction that I didn't know I possessed. There are two men in play interested in this incredible woman. I dearly love one over the other. Barbara please spare my beating heart and choose my favorite. This is certainly a series I will be sharing with others.
44 reviews
May 25, 2015
AWSOME

I gave this rating because this book kept me on the seat of my chair. The story was riveting and I did not put it down until I ran out of pages to read. At first I was shocked that it ended but this writer is good, she made me so sorry this book ended that I soon realized I was hooked. Well done!!!!!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
32 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2015
Wonderful historical references. You feel transported to Savannah during the Civil War. I'm looking forward to Book 2!
2 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2017
Barbara Best has done a superb job of capturing the sights, sounds and emotions of the American Civil War, but is masterful in helping us to understand the incredible adjustment a 21st century American would have to make to survive then. The entire culture at that time was different so issues that might go unnoticed by civil war era contemporaries would likely cause great offense and even humiliation for many 21st century Americans. Best's characters struggle with those differences, yet manage to co-exist. Only because the author has long been involved in civil war reenactment, does she have the ability to address those issues and the subsequent reactions.

I have long been a student of that horrible period in our history and have always been greatly impressed by the ability of young, undereducated people to express themselves in both the spoken and written word. Ms. Best's writing reflects the wonderful and simple eloquence that seemed to come so naturally to a nation without telephones, the Internet and the broadcasting industry. When people communicated during that period, there was no delete button, no spell or grammar check and no text messaging to explain away what might be misinterpreted. They had to get it right the first time and, surprisingly they did. I love reading the thoughts of those early pioneers because their use of the English language was done with a care and respect that is missing in today's fast-paced modern world.

Yes, Barbara Best's story is a great one and I look forward to subsequent titles, but there are lots of good civil war stories. This one is special because she so expertly injected the nuances of a culture almost forgotten. It is that insight, that dedication to accuracy that tells me she has a real future as an author.
Profile Image for Michele.
1,852 reviews63 followers
October 17, 2017
Try imagine being grabbed through a time portal to a time when the North and the South were embroiled in the Civil War. Then try to imagine if you were in a Fort that you knew would be lost. Not exactly easy when you know history as well as Jane Peterson does--an avowed history geek she knows what is going to happen and can do nothing about it.

She had been with some friends at a reenactment at this fort when it all happened. Her friend saw her disappear-----Her boy friend would not give up--

As luck would have it she was "helped" by a Southern gentleman soldier and he and the Captain contrived to help her get released from the Yankees. He sent a letter to his Mother telling her to take Jane in. Against all odds she and the young soldier that went with her, made it.

Jane had a very difficult time knowing things that were not yet known--like unheard of medical advances--Washing your hands and sterilizing equipment. She could not sit by and ended up helping and trying to teach all within the confines of--women were meant to get married and have children--they still could not even vote!!

What happened to the key that had unlocked all this---you will find out at the very end. This is not, however the end of this saga--there is a book#2 which I really want to read!!

The commingling of history and fiction is superb--Barbara Best knows how to write Time Travel-an author you don't want to miss.
The Lincoln Penny
1,232 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2019
I loved this book, combining the past and present, all the way to the end. But that's where the problem is. Whenever someone has to purchase a sequel to know the conclusion, one can't help but to feel like they have been bamboozled. Spending all night reading it in anticipation of knowing the conclusion and then realizing one has to shell out big bucks to know what happened is deflating to me (especially someone who doesn't have it). Unfortunately, this happens all too much. Otherwise, the book is well-written, intriguing, obviously a page turner and would be worthy of five-stars if it appropriately concluded rather than leaving it hanging as it did.
Profile Image for Dani .
1,073 reviews15 followers
November 28, 2018
This book dragged for me and I ended up skimming a lot. I enjoyed the passages where there was actual dialogue and the ones where Jane got to use her modern knowledge to help the people in 1862. However, all the historical observations moved too slowly for me. The book ended abruptly -- not with enough suspense to call it an actual cliffhanger, just an unfinished story. I'm not sure I'm interested enough in what's left of the story to go through the second book.
Profile Image for Linda Pellerin.
69 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2017
What if you could travel in time?

I enjoyed this book since I have done extensive reading about the South during the Civil War. This story puts its main character into the middle of the Civil War although she is from our time. Her experiences living in this time period that she has only read about prove to be quite challenging. But her main goal is to find her way back home.
58 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2019
Disappointing

I read 30% of this fun, novel book. Then Bam !! Bryce used our Lords name in vain. Actually makes me ache. If you stop a book when that happens this won't be the book for you.
I sure couldn't understand the need for that Barbara Best, even profanities can be read through but not that.
Profile Image for Janice Clark.
Author 4 books9 followers
July 17, 2022
Fascinating story of accidental time travel, and having to cope with a new life:

Just as Jane is "sucked in" to another time, I found myself drawn into this story. I felt a connection not only with Jane, but with many secondary characters. The author has obviously done lots of research, and the writing is compelling. Jane's love of history and her broad general knowledge are helpful in her adapting to her situation, but so are courage, quick thinking, and genuinely caring about the people she encounters.
5 reviews
July 9, 2018
Lincoln Penny

I did not like the verbs being in present tense. I found myself converting to past... bugged me! The story line is intriguing though!
Profile Image for Lorraine Carey.
Author 33 books109 followers
October 12, 2019
One of my favorite Time Travel Romances!

This one kept me up nights as I had to find out what would happen next.
Very well written. Saw this as advertised in a woman's magazine.
Not to miss!
12 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2019
Anything time travel is great, and the historical settings are awesome.
Profile Image for Sharon Marie Himsl.
Author 3 books5 followers
Read
January 7, 2020
Time travel back to the Civil War for an interesting 'you are there' experience. A well researched story with a sequel too! Love the title the author chose :)
416 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2020
My favorite genre - Time travel. Interesting involvement in the Civil War in Georgia on the Confederate side.
The Book does not stand on it's own, and leaves you hanging.
Not acceptable
Profile Image for Herma.
177 reviews6 followers
Read
March 18, 2017
saya putuskan untuk tidak melanjutkan bacaan ini (dnf) hingga menjelang akhir bab 6. bukan tanpa sebab karna saya sangat dibuat bingung dgn timeline yg dibuat pengarang dalam penceritaannya. novel ini sebenarnya memiliki potensi lebih untuk buku2 bergenre historikal, scifi, supranatural ato semacamnya namun dalam hal ini si pengarang sepertinya terlalu asik dgn plot cerita yg menggunakan timeline berbeda pada tiap bab nya sehingga membuat bingung pembaca seperti saya yg merasa terjebak dgn lingkaran yg dibuat oleh pengarang.
Satu hal yg menarik adalah saya tidak sendirian dalam hal ini. salah seorang pembaca di sini memberikan ulasan yg hampir sama persis dgn apa yg saya alami.
Saya tidak bisa me-review lebih jauh lagi karna tidak menguasai keseluruhan isi novel, jadi saya akhiri pencapaian bacaan saya sampai disini.
17 reviews
February 15, 2017
Take a trip back in time...

I absolutely loved this book! I found it to be interesting as well as entertaining. The storyline kept me involved so that I read the book in two days! It has a little bit of mystery, history, romance and of course time travel. If you find these interesting, this is the book for you!
Profile Image for Sherry Ledet.
254 reviews6 followers
Read
December 28, 2017
The first book in a two book Time Travel series. Very good. I could hardly wait to see how the second one ended but wanted to enjoy it all.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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