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The Juncture
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Gary Olstrom faces an unimaginable situation in the aftermath of a freak accident, when a miraculous event brings him back to an obscure day in his past; a key juncture in time that he never suspected held any importance. Disoriented and frustrated, he learns that he has only hours to stop something from happening that would irreparably damage the future of everyone who he knows and loves.
Gary Olstrom faces an unimaginable situation in the aftermath of a freak accident, when a miraculous event brings him back to an obscure day in his past; a key juncture in time that he never suspected held any importance. Disoriented and frustrated, he learns that he has only hours to stop something from happening that would irreparably damage the future of everyone who he knows and loves.
198 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2013
About the author
Bruce Fottler
6 books55 followersSince exiting a finance career in a world of cubicles, Bruce Fottler has been busy writing novels. His latest is the suspense thriller: "The Initiative: In Harm's Way (Book One)."
Bruce grew up in the Chicago suburbs and moved to the Boston area as a young teen. While seeking a career-track that mostly put him behind a desk, he dabbled in creative pursuits such as producing, writing, and directing film shorts. However, it was always writing novels that interested him the most because they aren't limited by production budgets, technical capabilities, or tight shooting schedules.
Bruce has five published novels: "Chasing Redemption" (sci-fi thriller), "Dover Park" (mystery), "The Juncture" (time-travel drama). "Paladin's Odyssey" (post-apocalyptic thriller), and "The Initiative: In Harm's Way" (thriller).
His novel "Paladin's Odyssey" was recently reviewed in Publishers Weekly magazine (Jan 2016).
Bruce grew up in the Chicago suburbs and moved to the Boston area as a young teen. While seeking a career-track that mostly put him behind a desk, he dabbled in creative pursuits such as producing, writing, and directing film shorts. However, it was always writing novels that interested him the most because they aren't limited by production budgets, technical capabilities, or tight shooting schedules.
Bruce has five published novels: "Chasing Redemption" (sci-fi thriller), "Dover Park" (mystery), "The Juncture" (time-travel drama). "Paladin's Odyssey" (post-apocalyptic thriller), and "The Initiative: In Harm's Way" (thriller).
His novel "Paladin's Odyssey" was recently reviewed in Publishers Weekly magazine (Jan 2016).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 12, 2016
In the aftermath of a freak accident, a miraculous event brings Gary Olstrom back to an obscure day in his past; a key juncture in time that he never suspected held any importance. Disoriented and frustrated, he learns that he has only hours to stop something from happening that will irreparably damage the future of everyone he knows and loves.
At the outset of the book, it's quite obvious that Gary's wife has some premonition that someone she knows and loves is going to have a tragic accident. Not only can she do nothing about it, she can't tell him, either, because it will affect the outcome, which will affect the past, which will affect the present, which will... Oh, my head hurts from Time Fracture. I agree with Janeway (Star Trek Voyager) that time travel should be avoided at all times. (grin). Unless you are in a Tardis. (Bigger grin).
Right after this glimpse into her precognition, we are in Gary's shoes, walking through a normal day in the world of Corporate Finance, with an abrupt and abnormal interruption. On this rain-soaked day, while traveling to lunch with his pastor, Gary witnesses a tragic accident that leaves three teens trapped in a vehicle on a railroad crossing.
Gary and a truck driver stop to help, and as they do, as 'luck' would have it, a train is on its way. Gary helps all three teens get to safety before the vehicle is struck by the train, but while he is getting out of the way, the flying car hits him. He has a moment where the EMT's are working on him, trying to keep him alive, and suddenly he wakes up in the past, on what seems a random day in 1981, his senior year in high school. (Coincidence, this is also my senior year in high school).
He spends the rest of this day at school, trying to determine why God has placed him back in this particular day, and what it is he's supposed to accomplish.
Content:
Violence: The only violence in this book was caused by a train. It was not graphic, but I am empathetic, so felt the pain.
Language: Moderate. Gary's friend John is not a Christian, and his language is fairly strong. There are 5-10 cuss words in the whole book, I believe, and the F-bomb is never used, nor is God's name taken in vain.
Sexual Content: Light. There is no sex in the book, although there are a few hints of parties where drinking and possible making out will occur. Girls in school are discussed in the book a few times, as teen boys will do.
Spiritual Content: Moderate. God is acknowledged by Gary as the author of his trip back in time, and asks multiple times what his purpose is back there. What it is he is supposed to learn or change. He deals with the grief of believing he is dead, or will be, when his purpose is accomplished in the past.
Bottom Line:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Juncture. I found it a well-written, gripping read, and could not put the book down from about halfway through until the end. It wasn't what I would call a thriller, but it kept this reader's attention, and taught well the lesson that we should treasure each moment, and remember to speak life into those around us. I gave it five stars.
At the outset of the book, it's quite obvious that Gary's wife has some premonition that someone she knows and loves is going to have a tragic accident. Not only can she do nothing about it, she can't tell him, either, because it will affect the outcome, which will affect the past, which will affect the present, which will... Oh, my head hurts from Time Fracture. I agree with Janeway (Star Trek Voyager) that time travel should be avoided at all times. (grin). Unless you are in a Tardis. (Bigger grin).
Right after this glimpse into her precognition, we are in Gary's shoes, walking through a normal day in the world of Corporate Finance, with an abrupt and abnormal interruption. On this rain-soaked day, while traveling to lunch with his pastor, Gary witnesses a tragic accident that leaves three teens trapped in a vehicle on a railroad crossing.
Gary and a truck driver stop to help, and as they do, as 'luck' would have it, a train is on its way. Gary helps all three teens get to safety before the vehicle is struck by the train, but while he is getting out of the way, the flying car hits him. He has a moment where the EMT's are working on him, trying to keep him alive, and suddenly he wakes up in the past, on what seems a random day in 1981, his senior year in high school. (Coincidence, this is also my senior year in high school).
He spends the rest of this day at school, trying to determine why God has placed him back in this particular day, and what it is he's supposed to accomplish.
Content:
Violence: The only violence in this book was caused by a train. It was not graphic, but I am empathetic, so felt the pain.
Language: Moderate. Gary's friend John is not a Christian, and his language is fairly strong. There are 5-10 cuss words in the whole book, I believe, and the F-bomb is never used, nor is God's name taken in vain.
Sexual Content: Light. There is no sex in the book, although there are a few hints of parties where drinking and possible making out will occur. Girls in school are discussed in the book a few times, as teen boys will do.
Spiritual Content: Moderate. God is acknowledged by Gary as the author of his trip back in time, and asks multiple times what his purpose is back there. What it is he is supposed to learn or change. He deals with the grief of believing he is dead, or will be, when his purpose is accomplished in the past.
Bottom Line:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Juncture. I found it a well-written, gripping read, and could not put the book down from about halfway through until the end. It wasn't what I would call a thriller, but it kept this reader's attention, and taught well the lesson that we should treasure each moment, and remember to speak life into those around us. I gave it five stars.
August 14, 2016
I received this book from a Members Giveaway on LibraryThing.
This is the first book from Bruce Fottler that I have read. This book was out of my usual books preferences, not for the time traveling but for the heavy Christian tones. Usually the moment a book starts talking about God I put it away to never be opened again but I decided to carry on reading this book because I promised a review.
This is a very fast read, although it takes until the last chapter to realize why he went back in time to when he was in high school. Some parts of this book felt a bit rushed and the details not as clear. Occasionally I felt like I was missing something but it was easy enough to overlook.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. If you don't mind a book with a lot of religious undertones and wanted to read a simple feel good book, I would recommend this. It's a nice reminder how the simplest things can have the most impact.
This is the first book from Bruce Fottler that I have read. This book was out of my usual books preferences, not for the time traveling but for the heavy Christian tones. Usually the moment a book starts talking about God I put it away to never be opened again but I decided to carry on reading this book because I promised a review.
This is a very fast read, although it takes until the last chapter to realize why he went back in time to when he was in high school. Some parts of this book felt a bit rushed and the details not as clear. Occasionally I felt like I was missing something but it was easy enough to overlook.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. If you don't mind a book with a lot of religious undertones and wanted to read a simple feel good book, I would recommend this. It's a nice reminder how the simplest things can have the most impact.
September 15, 2015
Gary Olstrom finds himself in an amazing situation following an accident. He is thrust back to his teen years on a specific date all he has to figure out is - why? His strong faith in God makes him realize that there is a reason he just needs to figure out what it is.
Can you imagine the frustration of being an adult in a teen body, knowing what you know as an adult but watching all the childish things done as a teen?
Bruce Fottler makes you think about things that have happened in your own life, why they happened and how those occurrences are the basis of your current life.
The Juncture is a fast enjoyable read. I can't really go into it more without spoilers - is it a miracle? is it a dream? is he in heaven? You'll have to read the book to find out. I highly recommend this book!
I received this ebook free from the author for review purposes.
Can you imagine the frustration of being an adult in a teen body, knowing what you know as an adult but watching all the childish things done as a teen?
Bruce Fottler makes you think about things that have happened in your own life, why they happened and how those occurrences are the basis of your current life.
The Juncture is a fast enjoyable read. I can't really go into it more without spoilers - is it a miracle? is it a dream? is he in heaven? You'll have to read the book to find out. I highly recommend this book!
I received this ebook free from the author for review purposes.
December 24, 2020
I enjoy Sci-Fi, speculative fiction type stories, so the premise of this one caught my interest. As far as the part of the story described in the blurb goes, it was very well done, frustrating, intriguing and a little bit funny all at the same time.
That being said, I can’t help but wonder if the story wouldn’t actually have been stronger as a short story, or perhaps a (very) short novella. Several scenes, and a good portion of the information shared, especially in the beginning, seemed to weight the story down rather than strengthening it.
All the same, I appreciate the opportunity the author gave me to read this fun book!
That being said, I can’t help but wonder if the story wouldn’t actually have been stronger as a short story, or perhaps a (very) short novella. Several scenes, and a good portion of the information shared, especially in the beginning, seemed to weight the story down rather than strengthening it.
All the same, I appreciate the opportunity the author gave me to read this fun book!
December 8, 2015
I received this book as a Members Giveaway from LibraryThing.
I recently read Dover Park by Bruce Fottler. And I was super impressed by the author and his writing style. This was the next book I picked up to read. As compared to Dover Park, this book was a little disappointing. May be because Dover Park set such a precedent and raised my expectations from the author.
I have no issues with the writing style of the author. It is just the story that was a bummer. The story is very common place. Its one of those stories which have been visited by many others in books and movies.
Throughout the book, I kept on expecting drastic to happen so that the author would live up to his Dover Park fame for me. So when nothing of that sort of happened, the book let me down a little. Also the Act of God theme was may be a little too extreme for me.
I liked the end though. The author has given a nice message that "Sometimes we are so fixated on one thing, we tend to miss the other things, though obvious and staring us right in the face".
The book is well written but I expected a little more from the story. Someone who reads it before Dover Park might actually enjoy the book. I would give it 3 stars.
http://pgupte.blogspot.in/2015/12/boo...
I recently read Dover Park by Bruce Fottler. And I was super impressed by the author and his writing style. This was the next book I picked up to read. As compared to Dover Park, this book was a little disappointing. May be because Dover Park set such a precedent and raised my expectations from the author.
I have no issues with the writing style of the author. It is just the story that was a bummer. The story is very common place. Its one of those stories which have been visited by many others in books and movies.
Throughout the book, I kept on expecting drastic to happen so that the author would live up to his Dover Park fame for me. So when nothing of that sort of happened, the book let me down a little. Also the Act of God theme was may be a little too extreme for me.
I liked the end though. The author has given a nice message that "Sometimes we are so fixated on one thing, we tend to miss the other things, though obvious and staring us right in the face".
The book is well written but I expected a little more from the story. Someone who reads it before Dover Park might actually enjoy the book. I would give it 3 stars.
http://pgupte.blogspot.in/2015/12/boo...
February 23, 2016
Following an accident, Gary Olstrom finds himself in his teenage room. He clearly remembers his life before the accident and now he has to cope with himself as a teenage boy. Is he dead, is he dreaming, is there a reason he was sent back in time? The real answers to these questions might surprise you!
This was yet another book by Bruce Fottler that I have received in exchange for an honest review and once again the author didn't disappoint me. This book has all the good elements of a nice read that I have to commend - interesting story, realistic characters, well-written and elaborate dialogues. What I love about Bruce Fottler is that he manages to surprise his readers by many twists and interesting ideas, yet there are so many points in the book which are just ordinary everyday situations described in such a natural and easy-to-read way. There is also a religious tone in this book but the author does not impose any of his beliefs, he merely leaves it to the reader to decide what to believe in. And even if you do not believe in God, there are questions you might start asking yourself once you read this book.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it!
This was yet another book by Bruce Fottler that I have received in exchange for an honest review and once again the author didn't disappoint me. This book has all the good elements of a nice read that I have to commend - interesting story, realistic characters, well-written and elaborate dialogues. What I love about Bruce Fottler is that he manages to surprise his readers by many twists and interesting ideas, yet there are so many points in the book which are just ordinary everyday situations described in such a natural and easy-to-read way. There is also a religious tone in this book but the author does not impose any of his beliefs, he merely leaves it to the reader to decide what to believe in. And even if you do not believe in God, there are questions you might start asking yourself once you read this book.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it!
November 9, 2015
What would your reaction be to finding yourself in your own past? This is the conundrum that Gary Oldstrom finds himself in. Gary while rescuing teenagers trapped in a vehicle with an oncoming train was thrown from the vehicle. Gary wakes up in 1981 with no idea how he got there. Gary's faith is put to the test as he tries to cope with his situation. Gary becomes cocky in his attitude that he knows why God put him in this situation. Unfortunately God had other plans for Gary turning his world upside down and thensome. What lessons was Gary suppose to learn? Will Gary be a changed man? Find out in The Juncture.
This eye opening story hits many levels personally, emotionally, and mentally. This new to me author brought forth a time honored lesson that God's timing isn't our timing no matter how much we want it to be so. The story and characters were real, flawed, honest, raw, down to earth, snotty, and angst filled. Definitely looking forward to more of this author in the future.
This eye opening story hits many levels personally, emotionally, and mentally. This new to me author brought forth a time honored lesson that God's timing isn't our timing no matter how much we want it to be so. The story and characters were real, flawed, honest, raw, down to earth, snotty, and angst filled. Definitely looking forward to more of this author in the future.
May 26, 2016
While I wasn’t expecting the religious plot line that overlaid the plot, it was an extremely engaging narrative story. Bruce Fottler did a great job of weaving religious beliefs into the characters’ personalities and circumstances, paving the way for realistic interactions. Overall, “The Juncture” did a good job of telling an implausible story while exploring the effects of getting to relive a day in your past. What would you do if you were given the opportunity to go back and change just one thing?
For my full review, please visit my blog: https://thebookbasics.wordpress.com/2...
For my full review, please visit my blog: https://thebookbasics.wordpress.com/2...
July 11, 2016
I received this free ebook thru Early Reviewers on LibraryThing. I found it to a very entertaining book that also makes you think. It reminded me of a mixture of the movies "Back To The Future" and "Somewhere In Time," with just a little splash of religion to make you wonder if miracles do happen. You do not have to believe in any religion though, to find yourself questioning if or how your past might influence your present and your future. I would highly recommend this book; especially for people who like to look for a deeper meaning to life. I really enjoyed this book.
September 7, 2015
This is one of those books you swear you have pinned down from the beginning, then it suddenly twists in the opposite direction. The Juncture was a quick read, that keep me wanting to more. It's a book that captivates you, and leaves you thinking at it's conclusion. A great book through and through!
April 8, 2013
This is a very interesting story. I loved how the main character had thought he figured out what was happening and why it was happening. It keeps you reading to see what is going to happen next and laughing too. Made me doing a bit of thinking too. I'm glad I read it
October 3, 2015
I don't really get, how if the main character is back to 1981, how someone could mention a "smart-phone" (Chapter Eight), that was a real turn off regarding the book ambient to me.
September 24, 2015
It was different. Very god-centric. It was quick an interesting to say the least.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews