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A Tryst in Time
Grieving over the death of her soldier brother in Vietnam, Sarah Jennings seeks comfort in her family's crumbling Southern plantation and is transported back to the time of the Civil War, where she meets the battle-weary Damien.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
101 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Eugenia Riley
78 books100 followersEugenia Riley is the award-winning, bestselling author of dozens of historical, contemporary and time-travel romances, including A TRYST IN TIME, TEMPEST IN TIME, and TIMESWEPT BRIDE. She is a #1 Bestselling Author of Time Travel Romance at Amazon and Kindle. She has written for publishers including Avon, Bantam, Warner, Harlequin and Dorchester.
Eugenia is delighted to announce the launching of Eugenia Riley Classics, a new imprint featuring all of your favorite Eugenia Riley historical, contemporary, and time-travel romances, finally available again in Kindle, NOOK, Kobo and at iBooks! Eugenia's currently available e-book list includes: WANTED ACROSS TIME; BUSHWHACKED BRIDE; BUSHWHACKED GROOM; PHANTOM IN TIME; EMBERS OF TIME; A CHRISTMAS IN TIME; LOVERS AND OTHER LUNATICS; TIMESWEPT BRIDE; TIMESWEPT BABY; THE PHANTOM OF THE BATHTUB ; TEMPEST IN TIME; and TWO HEARTS IN TIME.
Eugenia's latest release, WANTED ACROSS TIME, is an April 2013 release in Kindle, NOOK, Kobo, and at iBooks. WANTED ACROSS TIME is a wild and sexy romp back in time to the Wild West, in the tradition of BUSHWHACKED BRIDE and BUSHWHACKED GROOM.
Eugenia is especially acclaimed for her nine time travel romance novels. Her first two, A TRYST IN TIME and TEMPEST IN TIME, were Waldenbooks romance bestsellers in mass-market paperback; both titles sold out of print three times. Three of her time-travels placed on the Ingram's romance list; and EMBERS OF TIME was a top ten bestseller in time-travel at Borders. Eight of Eugenia's time-travels have earned 5 star ratings or better at Heartland Critiques, and all have won numerous high ratings and rave reviews in publications such as Romantic Times, Rendezvous, and The Literary Times. Reviewer Harriet Klausner calls Eugenia "the empress of time-travel romance." She has received thousands of fan letters on her novels, from locations all over the world.
Eugenia is the winner of the HOLT Medallion for WALTZ IN TIME. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, a former English teacher and editor of TOUCHSTONE Literary Quarterly. She lives in Texas with her husband; they have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 31, 2022
Not a bad story, but a bit slow.
And heroine’s behaviour was quite annoying: she was always doubting, always moving forth and back 🤦♀️
And heroine’s behaviour was quite annoying: she was always doubting, always moving forth and back 🤦♀️
August 30, 2022
I'm afraid it's not going to be super in-depth because this book wasn't one of my favorites. The biggest reason for this was the terribly, horribly unrealistic and antiquated dialogue. It really wrecks the break from reality when the dialogue isn't believable. A man and a woman walking around sighing, "Oh my love!" over and over again is not what I would call realistic. Not to mention the quickness with which Sarah and Damien fell madly, deeply in love was a little bit too sudden for me. I don't feel like I ever really loved the characters. I don't think they had enough depth for me. While it was sad that both main characters had lost their brothers to horrible deaths in different wars, that was about all I cared about. I didn't feel that much empathy for either of them, which is a little bit disappointing. While the actual time travel aspect was interesting, I wasn't entirely thrilled with the fuzzy logistics of it. I know it was meant to be that way, but there seemed to be some contradictions throughout the plot. What I did find interesting was the search that Sarah performed while trying to find out whether or not she belonged in the past. It reminded me of the hunting that any good genealogist would have to go through. That journey, in particular, was what helped me get through the latter half of the book. Overall, the characters were somewhat flat and disappointing. The dialogue was probably some of the most flowery, overly-dramatic, and unbelievable that I've ever read. The plot was alright, but nothing all that special. I doubt I'll be reading anymore books by Riley even though I'm sure I have a couple of hers on my shelves. This book was not my cup of tea.
March 25, 2024
After her fiancé betrays her by getting a vasectomy without speaking to her first, Sarah finding out her dead relative left her an estate in the will is a blessing. Packing up her whole life, Sarah is determined to make a new life down on the bayou. The property is old and overgrown by plants and time but it’s truly stunning. Despite a few ghosts.
One day, when relaxing in the warm sun, Sarah awakens to find herself transported back in time! In 1870’s, Sarah poses as an art restoration expect, luckily a field she knows very well. Hired on by the master of the house to restore his dead brothers art work, Sarah bonds with the handsome but tortured man over the loss of a sibling as she too is struggling to cope with her own brother’s death.
Just when the pair start to become more connected, Sarah is thrust forward in time once again. From there comes the struggle to understand why she has this ability, what about the past keeps drawing her back and how she can find a way to return to the past and live forever with Damien.
What an absolutely boring book. Damien was so fucking bland that he might as well be flavorless oatmeal, Sarah was not much better. Together it was either, my love, my heart blah blah. Such a forced attempt to create chemistry between two characters who had nothing to provide to the audience that could slightly be mistaken for personality. Safe to say that I was also offended and disturbed by the authors comfortability addressing black women as negress. Meaningless, romance fiction is not the place to try to be historically accurate with racial inequalities.
One day, when relaxing in the warm sun, Sarah awakens to find herself transported back in time! In 1870’s, Sarah poses as an art restoration expect, luckily a field she knows very well. Hired on by the master of the house to restore his dead brothers art work, Sarah bonds with the handsome but tortured man over the loss of a sibling as she too is struggling to cope with her own brother’s death.
Just when the pair start to become more connected, Sarah is thrust forward in time once again. From there comes the struggle to understand why she has this ability, what about the past keeps drawing her back and how she can find a way to return to the past and live forever with Damien.
What an absolutely boring book. Damien was so fucking bland that he might as well be flavorless oatmeal, Sarah was not much better. Together it was either, my love, my heart blah blah. Such a forced attempt to create chemistry between two characters who had nothing to provide to the audience that could slightly be mistaken for personality. Safe to say that I was also offended and disturbed by the authors comfortability addressing black women as negress. Meaningless, romance fiction is not the place to try to be historically accurate with racial inequalities.
December 6, 2020
A perfect time travel story.
A story from one of my favorite authors. The emotions will keep you engaged until the last sentence of the story. Sarah's trauma from losing her brother in the Vietnam war sends her into a spiral and inheriting an estate from a distant relative gives her the excuse to start again.
I will give you the chance to discover her emotional travels through time instead of ruining the book for you. If you like time travel stories, this is one that will stay with you. But the book! You won't regret it.
A story from one of my favorite authors. The emotions will keep you engaged until the last sentence of the story. Sarah's trauma from losing her brother in the Vietnam war sends her into a spiral and inheriting an estate from a distant relative gives her the excuse to start again.
I will give you the chance to discover her emotional travels through time instead of ruining the book for you. If you like time travel stories, this is one that will stay with you. But the book! You won't regret it.
January 14, 2019
Mesmerizing story
This is a magnificent southern gothic novel that weaved its storyline into the reader's heart. The twist and turns are exceptionally well done but the author Eugenia Riley who can tell a tale.
This is a magnificent southern gothic novel that weaved its storyline into the reader's heart. The twist and turns are exceptionally well done but the author Eugenia Riley who can tell a tale.
April 28, 2019
That whole meeting her daughter in the present as a 96 year old was so weird. I just wonder how if a person travels back in time, and they die there, how is it that they are reborn in the present ?
August 11, 2020
Wow
Very good book.a must read.the story and characters were great.I will read again and again.I love time travel books.keep up the excellent work.
Very good book.a must read.the story and characters were great.I will read again and again.I love time travel books.keep up the excellent work.
November 28, 2020
Good time travel
The author should really have consulted a map before placing Meridian so precisely on the Mississippi River, since it's on the other side of the state.
The author should really have consulted a map before placing Meridian so precisely on the Mississippi River, since it's on the other side of the state.
July 24, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up! I loved the setting and the time travel aspect of things. It was a tad slow at times but overall I enjoyed this one!
January 2, 2020
I afore time travel romance novels. This one was splendidly written. Surprise at the end that I was not expecting!
December 19, 2014
Genre: Romance/Time Travel
Author: Eugenia Riley
Book: A Tryst in Time
My Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Will I read I read it again? Yes
Intro: Inconsolable after her brother's death in Vietnam, Sarah Jennings seeks refuge in Louisiana's Belle Fontaine, a crumbling Civil War plantation house where she could lose herself in the swirling dreams of a dark-eyed lover who calls to her from across the years. Damien, too, lost a brother to war -- the War Between the States -- but in Sarah he finds a sweet ecstasy that makes life worth living again.
The house was left to Sarah by her mom’s second cousin Erica. Needing to leave and get away from her home and the death of her brother, Sarah picks up and heads to Louisiana outside of New Orleans. Still grieving over his loss and still cannot pick up her paint brush, she heads to the Plantation house. On the land it has two houses. One was more current and then the old plantation home that has been empty for many years. The old house was also rumored to be haunted by Damien Fontaine.
As she sleeps in the new home she still visits the old home and does her meditation there. As the days go by she begins to hear music and Damien calling for her to join him. And one day she does! What I did like about this time travel was that when she awoke in the past she was still wearing her dress that was not the fit for the time she went back to. I liked that because in most travel books they are always ready to be sent back in time and it doesn’t feel right. Also when she was in the past she felt a strange invisible barrier that made her think not to go out of the house. That also is different than most books.
I really enjoyed this book and I like her characters. It was great to see them both able to move pass the grieving and find love with each other.
I was given this book to read and give an honest review. This review is my honest opinion and I have fully read this book.
Author: Eugenia Riley
Book: A Tryst in Time
My Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Will I read I read it again? Yes
Intro: Inconsolable after her brother's death in Vietnam, Sarah Jennings seeks refuge in Louisiana's Belle Fontaine, a crumbling Civil War plantation house where she could lose herself in the swirling dreams of a dark-eyed lover who calls to her from across the years. Damien, too, lost a brother to war -- the War Between the States -- but in Sarah he finds a sweet ecstasy that makes life worth living again.
The house was left to Sarah by her mom’s second cousin Erica. Needing to leave and get away from her home and the death of her brother, Sarah picks up and heads to Louisiana outside of New Orleans. Still grieving over his loss and still cannot pick up her paint brush, she heads to the Plantation house. On the land it has two houses. One was more current and then the old plantation home that has been empty for many years. The old house was also rumored to be haunted by Damien Fontaine.
As she sleeps in the new home she still visits the old home and does her meditation there. As the days go by she begins to hear music and Damien calling for her to join him. And one day she does! What I did like about this time travel was that when she awoke in the past she was still wearing her dress that was not the fit for the time she went back to. I liked that because in most travel books they are always ready to be sent back in time and it doesn’t feel right. Also when she was in the past she felt a strange invisible barrier that made her think not to go out of the house. That also is different than most books.
I really enjoyed this book and I like her characters. It was great to see them both able to move pass the grieving and find love with each other.
I was given this book to read and give an honest review. This review is my honest opinion and I have fully read this book.
July 27, 2016
A Tryst in Time by Eugenia Riley
I enjoyed this time travel story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
THE DREAM
Belle Fontaine was a relic of Louisiana's gracious past, a crumbling Civil War plantation house, where shadowy images seemed to flit between the shifting pools of sunlight, and haunting melodies echoed through the empty rooms. For Sarah Jennings it was a refuge from the inconsolable sorrow of her brother's death in the Vietnam War, a place where she could lose herself in swirling dreams of a dark-eyed lover who called to her across the years . . .
THE FULFILLMENT
Damien, too, had lost a brother to war—the War Between the States—but in Sarah's soft embrace he found a sweet ecstasy that made life worth living again. If only he could fathom the mystery surrounding her arrival at Belle Fontaine, if only he knew whether they were to share more than a brief tryst in time.
I enjoyed this time travel story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
THE DREAM
Belle Fontaine was a relic of Louisiana's gracious past, a crumbling Civil War plantation house, where shadowy images seemed to flit between the shifting pools of sunlight, and haunting melodies echoed through the empty rooms. For Sarah Jennings it was a refuge from the inconsolable sorrow of her brother's death in the Vietnam War, a place where she could lose herself in swirling dreams of a dark-eyed lover who called to her across the years . . .
THE FULFILLMENT
Damien, too, had lost a brother to war—the War Between the States—but in Sarah's soft embrace he found a sweet ecstasy that made life worth living again. If only he could fathom the mystery surrounding her arrival at Belle Fontaine, if only he knew whether they were to share more than a brief tryst in time.
May 30, 2012
Read this book twice and I almost NEVER reread books (especially romance novels). The time travel aspect was well written and I am a sucker the victorian era. I love that the "present day" in this book is actually in the 60's...kinda makes it more timeless than if it was contemporary. It is a suprising book for the romance genre...go for it if you are a romance lover!.
February 4, 2015
One dimensional characters
This book had one dimensional characters. The H & H had no chemistry and the story was dragged out to the point I lost interest. Couldn't finish. Can't figure out why so many good reviews when the story was so flat.
This book had one dimensional characters. The H & H had no chemistry and the story was dragged out to the point I lost interest. Couldn't finish. Can't figure out why so many good reviews when the story was so flat.
December 15, 2016
Fun reading!
February 6, 2015
This had all the elements
i like in a book, time travel, the south, but it just didn't do it for me..
i like in a book, time travel, the south, but it just didn't do it for me..
February 22, 2015
Horribly written! Implausible, characters had very little personality, and the rules of time travel made no sense. Sarah was also an absolute idiot. And why was every door referred to as a "portal?"
January 4, 2017
A great story
I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly, didn't want to put it down. I know it's a good book when I am sad to see it end.
I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly, didn't want to put it down. I know it's a good book when I am sad to see it end.
May 17, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. It was a captivating read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews