Mercer Street

American Journey #2

by John A. Heldt

Love, honor, and courage take center stage in the second book of John Heldt’s American Journey time-travel series as three women from the present become entangled in the past in the tension-filled months leading up to World War II.

Weeks after her husband dies in the middle of an affair, Susan Peterson, 48, seeks solace on a California vacation with her mother Elizabeth and daughter Amanda. The novelist, however, finds more than she bargained for when she meets a professor who possesses the secret of time travel.

Within days, the women travel to 1938 and Princeton, New Jersey. Elizabeth begins a friendship with her refugee parents and infant self, while Susan and Amanda fall for a widowed admiral and a German researcher with troubling ties.

Filled with poignancy, heartbreak, and intrigue, MERCER STREET gives new meaning to sacrifice and commitment as it follows three strong-willed souls on the adventure of a lifetime.

Genres: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical, Fantasy, Science Fiction

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2015

About the author

John A. Heldt is the author of twenty-six bestselling time-travel novels. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, coin collector, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

Reviews

[Phyllis Eisenstadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOM

If you like time travel novels, you will LOVE this one. It is intricately detailed and well crafted, and held my interest from beginning to end. The narrative was so realistic that it seemed I not only saw and heard the characters speak and interact with each other, but I actually felt their individual dilemmas, and was trying to help them find solutions. So, in essence, this novel was interactive for me.

What I especially appreciated about this novel is that there is an aspect very similar to what you will find in novels of several Latin-American "Boom" authors. (Sorry, I cannot mention any more about this because it would then be a spoiler.)

In the meantime, you might want to come along and join three generations of fascinating women embarking on the most exciting, informative, and gratifying journey of their lives. You will not regret it. In fact, you will be enchanted by "Mercer Street," I promise!

I will certainly keep Mr. Heldt in mind when I look to purchase other books I can get into and not put down.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three generations of strong women take a mental and emotional break from a recent loss by taking in the sun and sand of California, as well as an intriguing speech given by a man who discusses time travel and its possibilities. Little did Susan, her mother Elizabeth and her daughter Amanda know that this one chance meeting with this professor would lead them to a world filled with memories, hope, renewal and even their fated destinies.

Imagine being able to see your infant self, meet the parents you lost so long ago and to witness the world you grew up in. Elizabeth found her past, realized the love her parents had and even visited the spot of one of the most memorable days of her life starting out as a newlywed.

Susan found that the pain of her husband’s betrayal and death could be lessened in a world far simpler than the twenty-first century. Was this a more honest and sincere time?

Amanda, ever the serious one found a kindred spirit in a German researcher with his own secrets. For these three brave women, the gift of going back in time is both an eye opening and sometimes difficult adventure, as they must be careful never to reveal their own secrets and labeled “eccentric” to say the least.

Follow their journey to a time when life had a different set of problems, where people actually engaged personally with others and relationships seemed more intense and deeper. Mercer Street by John A. Heldt is another trip back to the past, when front porches were filled with friends, it was okay to smile at strangers and life without the conveniences of contemporary times makes it a more valuable experience. Feel the atmosphere Mr. Heldt imbues into each page, picture the clothes of the times and understand the resiliency of the melting pot that is America, but most of all, feel the love and romance of being in the right place at the right time.

I received this copy from John A. Heldt in exchange for my honest review.

Series: American Journey - Book 2
Publisher: John A. Heldt (October 21, 2015)
Publication Date: October 21, 2015
Genre: Historical Romantic Time Travel
Print Length: 431 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Mercer Street by John A. Heldt is the second book in the Americal Journey Series. As a fan of Mr. Heldt's books I had a lot of expectations for this book, and as expected, this book lived up to each and every single one of them.

I always find Mr. Heldt's novels very meticulous, gripping and heart-warming. There's a unique quality about his writing that makes you feel eerily happy and content while reading his books that you simply can't put them down. His story-telling is so beautiful that his writing puts tons of 'big-time' authors to shame in comparison.

This story is about three females of varied ages - a daughter, a mother and a grandmother. I loved the assortment of memorable characters and their deliciously distinct backgrounds in this book. They were so compelling that I found myself thinking about them for days, especially about the way things ended.

The vivid imagery, the complex emotional battles each character fights, the moving story and the gut-wrenching situations the characters go through make this book an unforgetful read.

There are some books that are not simply read, but experienced, and this one is one of those. When you read each and every chapter, you feel like you're not just reading them but savoring them and feel like doing it slowly so as to enjoy the experience for a long time.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, no matter what genre you read.

You can also read this review at The Reading Bud.

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on Reveries Reviews

I’ve decided to make this a brief review as I didn’t enjoy the book a lot and I’m short of time today.

Mercer Street wasn’t a bad novel, but the content was simply too much for me to enjoy it (causing me to remove a star).

Plot: 4/5

I really enjoyed much of the plot, especially the ending, which really surprised me and was the perfect resolution. It was a little slow-paced at times.

I did find it a little unbelievable that Bell would choose to share his secret with strangers, even considering the background check. Still, I see why he would do that, and I don’t find it too unrealistic.

Characters: 5/5

The characters in this book were all fairly well-developed and interesting. I especially liked Amanda (though I can’t support some of her choices) and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was so sweet … and yet really fun!

Setting: 3/5

I love the late ’30s, but I felt like there just weren’t enough historical details in this book. We spent a lot of time focusing on character development, etc. … and I would have just liked more ’30s!

Writing: 4/5

I really do like Heldt’s writing style, and this did not disappoint. I did feel like there was a lot more innuendo/etc. in this book, though.

Theme: 4/5

Forgiveness, not judging people by outward appearances, etc. were well-portrayed. However, I felt like the whole adultery thing was just glossed over. It’s not a ‘mistake.’ It’s a sin. Of course, I’m a Christian reading a secular novel, so …

Content: 4/5

Language: a couple instances of ‘d*mn’ and ‘h*ll.’ Not frequent.

Violence: mentions of gunshot wounds, dying, a car crash, etc. Nothing gory.

Sexual: a character in the book committed adultery (which I felt wasn’t dealt with seriously enough) and it is mentioned many times. Sex happens off-page once, and there is much innuendo/etc. Susan is a ‘steamy romance’ writer and she mentions her books a couple times. A mention of strippers. Men ogle Amanda and try to ‘seduce’ her.

Not recommended for younger teens. Older teens cautioned.

Overall: 3/5

A four-star book with two-star content, I took the middle ground. It had a good plot (though perhaps a little slow) and interesting characters, but I would have liked more historical detail.

~Kellyn Roth

[Ashley Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few of books by Heldt, all about time travel. Mercer Street is the second book in the American Journey series and since I enjoyed the first naturally I wanted to read this one. This author is very talented when it comes to creating stories about time travel and I look forward to more from him.

Susan, Elizabeth and Amanda are on vacation when they attend a lecture about time travel by Geoffrey Bell. When Mr. Bell approaches them with an impossible opportunity to travel back in time to 1938 they can't refuse. Elizabeth wants to meet her parents when they were in their prime and she was only a toddler. Susan wants to move on from the death of her husband by running around in the past. Amanda just wants to have the adventure of the lifetime before she has to start working in the real world. Every woman starts friendships and relationships that shouldn't be possible and some could be dangerous. Will they be able to get back to their time without changing their future?

I was a little worried at first that this was going to seem too much like the other time travel books by Heldt. However, that wasn't the case it was so different. I really don't know how Heldt can manage to put so much history in his books. I have never been good with history so there is no way I could go back in time without causing a lot of problems. It was nice to see Amanda slip a few times, as bad as that is to say because there is no way someone could remember all of that stuff.

I loved Amanda and Kurt they were great and just seemed like they would be together. Honestly their scenes were my favorite parts and I looked forward to their chapters each time. Susan was a strong character and the obvious leader by her fearless attitude. I liked her and Jack but I never felt like she was really in that relationship. Elizabeth was my least favorite character but I think it was because of her age. It was just hard to read all of her parts because the bored me a little.

I always love these books because it feels like a blast from the past. It's how history lessons should have been like in high school because then maybe I would have paid more attention to them. I highly recommend this series to everyone and you won't be disappointed.

[Casee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in John Heldt’s American Journey series finds three generations of twenty-first century women on an adventure to pre-WWII New Jersey in a search for closure, clarity, and childhood innocence. Novelist Susan Peterson is still trying to find calm amid the chaos following her husband’s unexpected death, grappling with the reality of his infidelity while trying to hold the world together for her daughter, Amanda. When Susan’s mother, Elizabeth, accompanies the Peterson women on a California adventure, none of them expect that Elizabeth’s curiosity over time-travel lecturer Professor Geoffrey Bell will grant them all the chance of a lifetime. With nothing to lose, the trio embark from 2016 California to 1939 California, and from there across the country to Princeton, New Jersey and a rented house on Mercer Street where Elizabeth comes face-to-face with her immigrant parents and their infant daughter Lizzie. With the world’s best hindsight to her advantage, an elderly Elizabeth relishes the chance to spend more time with her parents and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a meaningful connection with her younger self. Meanwhile, Susan finds love and fulfillment in working with a handsome naval admiral as Amanda finds herself crossed in love – and maybe danger – with a dashing German whose family is keeping a secret.

Wonderfully capturing the calm before the storm of World War II, Mercer Street is another beautiful novel from author John Heldt, whose remarkable talent allows him to transform time-travel from a plot device into the foundation of a substantial and unforgettable story. With terrific pacing and comfortable narratives, Heldt takes his novels outside the bounds of genre fiction and into uncharted territory as he combines romance, suspense, and observations on human nature. Mercer Street is not unlike previous novels from Heldt in its ability to carry profound insight in even its more lighthearted passages, making for an experience that will please both escapist fiction lovers and more contemplative readers alike. The era and the characters in Mercer Street suit this scheme well. Through Amanda’s love interest, Kurt, Heldt explores the vulnerability of a young German as he clings to his powerful sense of morality in the shadow of Nazi Germany’s uprising; through Elizabeth, the grace of an elderly woman’s reconnection to her younger self as she literally relives moments of her life too old to be remembered; and through Susan, a woman’s search for her own strength as one love life takes shape even as another is still to be mourned. While each character and their personal experiences manage to take root for the reader, perhaps the most arresting is that of Elizabeth as she seems to get to the very heart of the human experience. It’s hard not to be affected by the imagery Heldt creates through Elizabeth’s first meeting her younger self, and then the fostering of an undeniable connection that grows so strongly between one’s present and past selves.

One of the other great strengths of Mercer Street, as with so many of Heldt��s novels, is the intrepid research that goes into the groundwork of its story. The energy of the time, when so much was unforeseeable, is captured in detail while unexpected figures from history take their turns gracing the pages in a series of cameos that will delight enthusiasts of the era. For his first novel set on the east coast Heldt has chosen a place as unforgettable as the time, with Princeton coming to life in both the simplest narrative illustrations and in Elizabeth’s poetic recollections of the world she once knew. It all comes together as the story whirls through its many manageable layers, at once comfortable to read and quite steeped in meaning, as it works up to its unexpected ending. With all the charisma, humor, and wisdom of the author’s previous novels – and with perhaps an even richer cinematic quality – Mercer Street is another winning and unmissable read from a truly well-skilled writer.

(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Street (American Journey # 2) by John A. Heldt

Susan Peterson, after the death of her cheating husband decides to take a vacation to California with her mother Elizabeth and daughter Amanda. Once there they meet a professor who tells them of time travel.

The three women go back in time to 1939. Elizabeth wants to go to Princeton New Jersey to see her parents and (herself) as a baby. Once there Elizabeth gets the chance to befriend her young immigrant parents, Susan falls for a an Admiral, and Amanda falls for a young German man. They all face tough decisions, and must be careful not to alter major events in time.

First I have to say I LOVE time travel stories and Mercer Street was fantastic,(it) left an impression on my heart. All three women are very likable, each facing a personal crisis before they go back in time, then they face major decisions once they go back in time.

The attention to detail had me feeling as if I were there. The plot is original and filled with many emotions. I also enjoyed the fact they went back to 1939 the begging of WWII (History lovers should enjoy this) I know I did. Overall I found the story to be enjoyable and satisfying a definite five-star read!

[Angela Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Street is the second book of John A, Heldt's American Journey five-part series. Like the rest of the books, it's not required to be read in order. I started off with the third novel, Class of '69. I quickly became a fan of Heldt's writing and couldn't wait for more. I was glad this one didn't disappoint.

Now that I've read all five, in this second book, I've noticed a lot of similarities with the other novels, such as repetition in the dialogue between characters, which made me begin skimming. Although it's the second book in the series, it's the fifth one I've read, and reading some of the dialogue became tedious. That said, I don't plan on subtracting any points from the book because I truly enjoyed the story that was weaved together.

Professor Geoffrey Bell and his wife, Jeanette are the only characters that remain in each of the books. I like them, particularly Geoffrey. They aren't present much, which is a shame but understandable. They are the keepers of a time traveling tunnel built by Bell's distant relative, Percival Bell. Every so often, they choose people as a guinea pig of sorts to travel to certain parts of the past using this tunnel. The way the return is by use of a magnificent crystal.

In Mercer Street, Susan Peterson travels with her mother, Elizabeth, and daughter, Amanda, to the year 1938, to Princeton, New Jersey. There, the trio gets swept up in love, honor, and heartbreak as they embark on a journey of a lifetime.

As usual, the story line is intriguing and fun to read. Heldt does an amazing job with his research to make this story believable. Of course, with any story messing with events of the past, anything can happen. I'm sure if you had the opportunity to walk into yesteryear, you'd be tempted to make the most of it. You'd want to make new friends with amazing people, even fall in love....after all, the heart wants what the heart wants. And just like any story messing with events of the past, even the smallest change may have major consequences that could impact the current times.

I won't say whether it did or didn't in this book. That's the fun part of turning the pages until you've reached the end. Mercer Street is a light, clean read, one that you can't put down.

*For more book reviews, visit: https://angelakaysbooks.com/book-revi...*

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Street by John A. Heldt is the second book in the American Journey Series. I truly enjoyed this story about three generation of women ꟷ Mother, daughter and granddaughter. All of them had some issues in their life and the past is the key to their future happiness. It’s an amazing story with an unexpected ending. I never saw that coming and I usually have ideas how endings will or can go.
A person does not have to read the first book to enjoy the second book. They are separate stories all together with the host being the same person. The host does refer to the time travelers in the first book, but only that they exist and are time travelers too while these women travel back to 1938-1939.
Nineteen thirty-eight and thirty-nine is an interesting time in history. Some very important political moves occur before WWII begins and at the start of it. Famous movies such as The Wizard of Oz appear on screen and the New York World Fair introduces TV and scary rides. The author combined these facts with his fiction characters very well. The history appeared to be well researched.
Although all the books I read by him are very good, this is my favorite so far.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Info
Kindle Edition, 431 pages
Published October 21st 2015 by John A. Heldt
original title Mercer Street
ASIN B0170DP9TQ
edition language English
other editions None found
Source

[Digital copy from Author]in exchange for an honest review

Book Buy Link
Amazon
NO B&N LINK AS YET

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Weeks after her husband dies in the midst of an affair in 2016, Chicago writer Susan Peterson, 48, seeks solace on a California vacation with her mother Elizabeth and daughter Amanda. The novelist, however, finds more than she bargained for when she meets a professor who possesses the secret of time travel. Within days, the women travel to 1938 and Princeton, New Jersey. Elizabeth begins a friendship with her refugee parents and infant self, while Susan and Amanda fall for a widowed admiral and a German researcher with troubling ties. Filled with poignancy, heartbreak, and intrigue, MERCER STREET gives new meaning to courage, sacrifice, and commitment as it follows three strong-willed souls on the adventure of a lifetime.

My Thoughts

Time Travel is a concept that is unsettling, exciting, terrifying, exhilarating and about as out of reach to me as the moon. The thought of being able to accidentally ”change” events, whether in the past or in the future, has ramifications that I do not even want to contemplate.

However when one thinks about doing what these three women managed it becomes a little more likely to be something that would be more enticing than not.

Elizabeth, her daughter Susan and granddaughter Amanda span three generations and each one of these ladies is very much their own person as well as very much family oriented. I enjoyed getting to be privy to each of their characters throughout the course of the story. I especially enjoyed the interactions between the two daughters and the two mothers, their bonds ran deep so even when they did not totally agree with one another they found a way to get past their differences without too much angst.

The time spent in 1938 Princeton, New Jersey was one that allowed each of the women to not only reconnect with a part of themselves that had been ”lost” in the daily hustle and bustle of life in 2016 it also allowed them to “heal” mentally from the shocking circumstances in which Susan became a widow, Amanda lost a Father and Elizabeth lost the loving support of her parents when she married without their consent or approval as a young woman.

In the book synopsis the author says this is about three strong-willed souls on the adventure of a lifetime. I agree wholeheartedly the ladies are strong-willed and the adventure was a once-in-a-lifetime journey that was so wonderfully sketched out that it makes one feel like you are traveling along with Susan, Amanda and Elizabeth.

I had to let this sit and percolate a day or two but in the end found it to be paced exactly to my liking, characters developed as I envisioned them from the start, the historical aspects generated a deep respect for modern living, the different story lines for each woman compelling and realistic but most of all the ending tied up all the threads in a way that was emotionally fulfilling as well as one that I agree was the best for all the characters it encompassed.

Thank you John A. Heldt for allowing me the pleasure of reading Mercer Street.

[Digital copy from Author]

[Ailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read September Sky, then you would be familiar with the process for American Journey series. After a lecture on time travelling, they were invited to have a chat with Professor Bell, the man who believes that it can be done.

With her mother and daughter by her side, Susan embarks on a new journey in 1938. Like the previous travelers before them, it was a priceless experience, not one without danger. Any thing may impact on their lives in the future. It was a volatile situation, being so close to World War 2, and being so close to events that shaped our world as it is now.

As life in 1938 goes on, the girls rekindle their passion for things in life. When Amanda risked everything for her new beau, she might be jeopardizing everything that they hold dear. The future now seems uncertain, any misstep may alter the course of history for real.

Three females does make a good read, three different perspectives from different generation and therefore viewpoints. Nothing escapes the matron of the lot, while Susan and Amanda stumble through their new life like a new born babe.

It is amazing how detailed the author is when setting scenes for the past. It is a well researched and described setting for the three girls to be in. The risk they took and their fears reflected as they make important decisions regarding their future.

If you are a fan of time travelling, there is a certain romanticism attached to finding true love in the wrong time. I admire how the author manages to find wriggling room to allow for changes in history, I suspect he is a skillful meddler who likes saving people for the sake of it.

But I often wonder, if the meddler can go too far sometimes. Awesome read, this can be read as a standalone, but is more fun to read it from book 1, but the travelers are given a brief summary so it is not strictly necessary.

[Andrea Lundgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: I've always been fond of time travel, so when the author contacted me about reviewing "Mercer Street," I was definitely interested.

However, I would not say this book is a romance, or a science fiction book, even. It's focused on the trio--Susan, Elizabeth, and Amanda--and how the journey back in time changes them, and yet how their intergenerational bond is stronger than anything. Even romance and death have to play second fiddle to their relationships with each other.

So here's a closer look at the Narration, Content, Characters, Artwork, World-Building, and Overall Response.

Narration: Three out of Five. There was a consistent tone to the book, but I didn't feel like it was a rich viewpoint. It involved "just enough to carry the story forward" sorts of detail, rather than the kind that makes you know more about the characters or the setting and mood.

Mostly, I felt like the narration couldn't make up its mind about what sort of narration it was. It didn't head-hop, and it didn't go in for symbolism or rich description. It was simple and clear, and it felt like this was chosen to leave the focus on mental contemplation and internal dialogues, but I didn't feel like we were close enough to the characters to really make the lack of details make sense, so it came off as more-or-less shallow.

Content: Four out of Five. The book was very well-represented in its content: there was little language, and you couldn't mistake the people from the past as being "modern." There was a suggestion of premarital sex, but the scene itself happened off page.

The only thing I wished for was a bit more historical coloring of place and time, of setting and world. It felt not-modern, but it didn't necessarily feel like 1938, possibly because we spend so much time on Mercer Street that all we're dealing with are houses, cooking, gardening and baby-raising--which haven't changed all that much. (The characters would make comments, now and then, but the descriptions weren't enough to immerse me into the world, as noted below.)

Characters: Three out of Five. The author does an adequate job representing three very different women, but I never felt like I knew the people involved in the story. I learned that Elizabeth disliked arguments, and Amanda was fond of creating scenes and getting almost hysterical, yet I didn't feel like we learned why these characters are who they are. We just see them make decisions, and even though we are present for some of the very backstory that influences these people, it doesn't add up to compelling characters. The real reason I kept turning pages was because I wanted to know how the romances would turn out, which shouldn't be the focus for a book that isn't really a romance.

Artwork: Subjective. Personally, I think the cover should've shown the house in winter, as we spend more page time in the cold months than the summer months. Also, there wasn't much about the house to give the suggestion of its time frame, which, while it suits the lack of detail given to the setting, doesn't really say "this is a book about mothers and daughters."

World Building: Three out of Five. As noted above, the story was about the women and the choices they make, not the place--which, for a story with time-travel, struck me as rather disappointing. There was so much to work with, since this novel could've combined all the feel of a modern world in parts with the environment of a historical novel, but it really just came across as consistently shallow. It did feel like we visited a different time, so I wouldn't say it failed completely, but there was so much more world-building available, because the past is so different than the present.

Overall Response: 13 out of 20, for a total of 3.25. If you enjoy stories about multigenerational relationships (and not just romances), and you aren't expecting a lot of science, you would probably like this book. It's a fairly light, quick read, with enough suspense and twists to make you want to know what's going to happen next, and the ending was very interesting (though I did feel like the build-up to it could've been better).

For more book reviews like this, click here.

Copyright 2016 Andrea Lundgren

Photo used by permission from the author

[Rachel T · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Oh John Heldt … is there anything you write that I won’t fall in love with? NOPE! LOL

I have come to expect one heck of a journey when I pick up a John Heldt novel, one that brings time travel, history, shock, love, sniffly “I just peeled an onion” moments, the need for a box of kleenex, nods of the head and a deep satisfaction that all is how it should be. Mercer Street is the second book of John’s American Journey series and like his first one I was completely smitten and captivated.

Susan Peterson has recently become a widow and decides to take a vacation in hopes of some healing. Bringing along her mother Elizabeth and her daughter Amanda, little does Susan realize that this vacay is going to throw her back into history and change her life forever. After meeting with a professor who is an expert on time travel, all three ladies soon find themselves on their own time travelling journey… together!

Thrown back into 1938 with New Jersey as the backdrop, Susan, Elizabeth and Amanda are not only flabbergasted at the experience of time travel, but completely at the mercy of what 1938 means. Pre WW2, being women, each having a different perspective on life as naturally three generations would, it was incredible to read these women navigate from 2016 to 1938.

As we bounce from one woman’s story to the other it amazed me how different their experiences were. Elizabeth befriends her parents as young immigrants (and meets herself as a baby .. that was weird …lol). Susan, after finding out her husband was unfaithful, has a tendency to have issues with trust. When she finds herself falling in love with an admiral, these issues surface. Amanda falls in love with a German and this brings much left to be desired as a war is brewing, and German’s were not on the same side as Americans.

SO MUCH MORE than all of this to the story (it’s hard to touch on details without giving too much away), and while all three main characters have their own spotlighted stories, it is amazing how weaved together these three individuals are. They each require healing in their own way, and they each seek to find something poignant and meaningful. I dare say they find all and so much more. One thing I came away with while reading this, is a mother will never stop being a mother. In spite of all good intentions, advice and suggestion wasn’t always adhered to, but a sense of learning and acceptance can be seen in all three strong willed women.

I often imagine how hard it has to be to be thrown back in a time, and want to do everything one can to prevent a harsh history from happening. I am glad this struggle is touched upon. John writes complex characters and story line that in my opinion are completely refreshing and engaging. His descriptions blow me away and I feel like I am experiencing the time as much as his characters are.

THANK YOU John for writing another captivating time travel novel. I have never made it a secret that I am not a huge fan of time travel, but you have erased any doubt I had and set a bar that is very high to match. I always look forward to reading one of your books and I sure hope there is more to come!

HAPPY READING! :)

Copy supplied by the author

[Pamela King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Street is John Heldt’s seventh novel and the second in his “American Journey” series.

When I reviewed the first John A. Heldt book I declared I had found a new favourite author. He hasn’t disappointed me with Mercer Street. I also said that I was not a time travel fan but Heldt’s books are different. They are free from technical gadgetry that can put a time travel story into the sci-fi genre.

Heldt writes with an obvious love of history and this is where his strength lies. His attention to detail in both historical facts and characters is impeccable.

In 1938 there was considerable unrest in Europe with Hitler dominating the scene but no real indication that the USA would enter the war brewing although the government kept an eye on the situation.

In 2016 the unrest that Mercer Street begins with is the disquiet of three women; Elizabeth the grandmother and matriarch, Susan a mother and a novelist and her daughter Amanda the historian who has just finished college. Following the death of Susan’s husband they are holidaying in California when they meet a professor who introduces them the idea that time travel is possible.

They take him up on his offer to send them back to 1938 where Elizabeth can meet her family from the past including her toddler self. Both Susan and Amanda fall in love with men of that time. In Susan’s case, she struggles with trusting a man after discovering just before his death that her husband had been having an affair. Amanda’s love is for a young German with a mysterious background is complicated by the situation in Europe and adds more mystery.

All three characters are strong, intelligent, courageous and believable as they thoroughly enjoy their adventure but need to deal with decisions about love found in their new world and avoiding action that will change the future. I must add that the love scenes do not get over physical and, I believe, suitable for young teens to read.

The many other characters are well thought out and fit the story and era perfectly. John’s use of a variety of historical events is careful and considered as is the introduction of real people like Eleonore Roosevelt. He even manages to include Orson Wells’ radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.

To add much more to a description of the story line would border on a spoiler but trust me Mercer Street has plenty of twists and turns to intrigue the reader.

Like all John Heldt’s books I have read to date, Mercer Street flows smoothly and consistently. You travel back in time along with the characters because his descriptions are so clear they leave an impression on the senses.

But, his greatest strength as a writer is the extensive research that obviously goes into his work resulting in a story that both entertains and teaches. His creativity his highlighted by the final and very agreeable twist at the end

Thank you, John, for yet another wonderful adventure into the past. I wish you continued success.

This review is also available on my website www.pam.id.au

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Mercer Street is obviously well researched and the author uses the various senses in describing the scenes of the past, from the unfamiliar smell of leaded gasoline used in 1938 to the then and now differences in towns across the USA visited by the characters.

The story has a steady pace throughout and there were some twists and turns in the plot development and even a few surprises, especially towards the end.

The book contains three protagonists – Amanda who is a young girl in her twenties, her mother Susan who is in her late forties, and Amanda’s grandmother Elizabeth who is in her late seventies. The three women were very close in their personalities and sometimes I had to double check which character I was reading about. I can’t put my finger on it, but I felt there was something missing from the characters as I couldn’t connect with any of them, although I still enjoyed reading about them.

I was also a little disappointed by the dialogue between all the characters in this story, it just didn’t work for me - it seemed not quite right, there were some repetitions, it was hard to distinguish the characters because they all seemed to talk the same, and the conversations were overly formal.

The setting of the story in 1938 and 1939 leading up to the start of World War II and the inclusion of so many different interesting morsels of historical events are what made this book really enjoyable for me. I also liked the air of mystery around a few of the supporting characters which kept me guessing about who was who and what they were really up to.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. Mercer Street is book two in the American Journey series by John A Heldt and I would recommend it to readers of all ages who love historical fiction.

[Lara Girdler · Rating 5 out of 5]

John’s hit another one out of the park! As soon as I finished reading September Sky I knew I wanted to read this one! He’d hinted at the story line and it intrigued me from the off. He has a way of writing characters so that you become so immersed in their story that you don’t even realize you’ve begun reading a book. He just writes them that well. This time was no different, you see the journey of three modern-day women in the late 1930’s, a time when America was at a turning point and Europe was on the verge of war. The way American’s viewed German’s and the prospect of joining Hitler’s war was not something to be taken lightly. John manages to see this change in America from the viewpoint of three different generations – Amanda, the youngest, a historian who wants to think that there’s some good in everyone, trusts Kurt even though there’s possibly secrets there that could undo the fabric of their relationship. Susan, Amanda’s mother whose cynicism toward men and German’s might just over-rule her protective instincts when it comes to Amanda – all the while teaching her a thing or two about being a woman. And, then there’s Elizabeth, Susan’s mother who lived through WWII as a child – her memories of what America and the world were like during that time period may just lead her toward rash decisions.
This story has many turns that keep the reader engaged – you want to know what’s going to happen to the main characters and see how they’ll interact with the pending war. John’s development of the characters and the world of 1938-39 Princeton, NJ are definitely not a let-down!
Five out of Five Stars for Mercer Street.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this seventh time travel novel by John Heldt, we follow three generations of women from 2017 to Princeton, NJ in 1938. Mr. Heldt's previous Northwest Passage series dealt with fish-out-of-water characters thrown decades into the past, sometimes into the path of a volcanic eruption or uber-large fire, while American Journey has its characters volunteer for the process, complete with deposit check and waiver forms. As always, he has done his research and constructed an intriguing sandbox for the time travelers (and us) to play in, although in this adventure the period backdrop is ambiguously overseas and not at the forefront of the story.

I've always struggled a bit with with his characters, who frequently use stiff, unnatural dialogue. During scenes of exposition, the characters frequently act like they're in the middle of a formal deposition, complete with full summaries, announced followup questions, and a rigid politeness. Mr. Heldt also has the characters smiling and laughing on an almost paragraph by paragraph basis. There are exceptions when the characters break out of the mold and argue (one in particular comes to mind), and it never fails to draw me more into the story.

That said, once you get into the story, it gets less grating, and I will say that the author does an excellent job of varying his storylines. Sometimes things work out well, and sometimes they don't. We get happily ever afters, and we don't. He knows how to use red herrings, and on this, my seventh book, I did not predict the ending at all. That more than evens out for a stylized stiffness on the character front.

Moving on to Book 8!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading John Heldt books for a long time. It's time travel and it's historical fiction all wrapped up in one. I love historical fiction and it's one of the things I love best about John Heldt's books. He knows how to include so many historical things into his books and make things come alive that way.

In this edition, we get to travel with three ladies back to 1938 in New Jersey. Each lady represents a generation in her family. The beginning was really slow going for me. Elizabeth, Susan and Amanda are basically the same person just in different stages of life. They have the same personalities and the same voice. It took moving farther into the book for me to be able to distinguish them by their circumstances. All three were no nonsense, to the point blunt, educated and headstrong. I didn't really click with their personalities so it was harder for me to make that personal connection and really feel emotions.

The history, like I said, is what makes this book for me. There was so much going on in the time period these ladies traveled to. The world on the brink of war, a world's fair, baseball greats, full service gas stations (!!) and an alien invasion. Each woman in the book has her own reasons for traveling through time back to the past and I think, in the end, they end up achieving their goals even if they came about in an unexpected way.

Content: drinking, talk about visiting a strip club, a few instances of profanity and mild swearing, sex behind closed doors, an affair.

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Peterson's life changed drastically in 2016. She found her husband was having an affair and then he died. Susan was furious about the affair but wasn't sure what to do with herself. Susan, her mother and daughter had planned a trip to California long before the world started crashing down around Susan. After talking it over, the three women decide the trip was just what they needed. It would clear the cobwebs out of their minds and allow them time to just relax. The trip however, is one they will not soon forget.

Beautiful. Incredible. Loving and compassionate are several words to describe this book. I am a fan of Mr. Heldts. His writing style is one you'll enjoy from the first book. I found myself wondering how I'd handle all the stuff Susan has to. Mr. Heldt tells a story in a way that makes you feel as if he's talking only to you. You can easily lose yourself in his work. I can see this series as a weekly television show. It would be something worth watching. This book is well written and has such incredible three dimensional characters you won't be able to put it down.

I didn't find any issues.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it took my breath away. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~

[Marie (UK) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series I started so long ago that I had almost forgotten the first one. it came back to me but even if it had not this one holds its place on its own. Characterisation is excellent. Heldt has an easy to read style and lets the narrative flow naturally. There are a few twists and turns along the way which i enjoyed and the ending has a feel good factor even if part of me says it couldn't really have happened like this.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of John's book and this one was as exciting as all the others. I like the science fiction of time travel and the history lesson you receive during the development of the story. The characters are always believable and very likable. I also like that there are always a few surprises that make you grin. John is an excellent storyteller, I look forward to his next novel.

[Roxie Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].

'Mercer Street (American Journey Book 2)' by John A. Heldt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on May 17, 2017
GIVEN FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $4.99 on Kindle

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Love, honor, and courage take center stage in the second book of John Heldt’s American Journey time-travel series as three women from the present become entangled in the past in the tension-filled months leading up to World War II.

A novelist, Susan Peterson, loses her husband and in her grief travels to California with her mother, Elizabeth, and daughter, Amanda. While there, she meets Professor Geoffrey Bell who possesses the ability to time travel.

The Peterson family travels back to 1938 Princeton, New Jersey. Each woman's heart is opened to new and beautiful experiences as well as heartbreak. Elizabeth gets to know her infant self and her young parents, Susan falls for a kind and gentle Admiral, and Amanda forms a relationship with a German researcher and his immigrant family in a time when both countries are coming to turmoil.

MY REVIEW:
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the American Journey series, and I had not read the first book before starting this one, so that felt a little jarring for the first few chapters. It didn't take me too long to put things together, though, and once I did, I really began to enjoy this series. I will most likely go back and read the first (and subsequent) books in this series.

This is a well-crafted time travel novel. The juxtaposition between three women from 2016 in the tumultuous time just before World War II was brilliantly done, I felt. Heldt created three women whose presence in that time made for a gripping story.

Elizabeth, an elderly woman who gets the opportunity to meet her infant self and her young parents was a compelling storyline. It makes you really ponder what you would do if you had that chance because there's always that age-old time travel paradox of not being able to alter the past for fear of drastically changing the future. But what if you could really, really make things better for yourself? Give yourself a better, more healthy and happy childhood and by proxy adulthood? Would you do it?

Amanda's relationship with her German beau was interesting, too, and it turned out completely different than I expected it to. Amanda is the most impulsive character in the novel, I think, which I suppose makes sense seeing as she's the youngest. And she, perhaps, makes the biggest impact on the three.

And then there's Susan, the reason they are all in 1938 to begin with. She, I felt, is the most interesting character. Everything she does is calculated and empathetic and heartbreaking. I wanted more for her in the end, but I felt Heldt did a wonderful job with her. If things had turned out differently, I think the story would have been somehow less in the end.

Heldt weaves a beautiful tale.

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercer Street American Journey bk 2 by John A Heldt Review
What would you do if you could meet yourself???

Love, honor, and courage take center stage in the second book of John Heldt’s American Journey time-travel series as three women from the present become entangled in the past in the tension-filled months leading up to World War II. Weeks after her husband dies in the middle of an affair, Susan Peterson, 48, seeks solace on a California vacation with her mother Elizabeth and daughter Amanda. The novelist, however, finds more than she bargained for when she meets a professor who possesses the secret of time travel. Within days, the women travel to 1938 and Princeton, New Jersey. Elizabeth begins a friendship with her refugee parents and infant self, while Susan and Amanda fall for a widowed admiral and a German researcher with troubling ties. Filled with poignancy, heartbreak, and intrigue, MERCER STREET gives new meaning to sacrifice and commitment as it follows three strong-willed souls on the adventure of a lifetime.

What did I like? My second love is time travel and I have fallen in love with this series and have now read all five books. I loved the concept of the books and each of the players in all the books.
The thought and the research that it took to write each of the books but to be able to pull them all together is incredible. These girls are compelling, but my favorite is Susan for her heartfelt decision at the end of the book.

What will you like? Imagine being able to travel back and meet yourself, what a trip that would be for anyone. These girls make this unbelievable decision to journey to the past and right a wrong that was dependent on teaching and learning what it takes to do the right thing and not change history. Each girl is involved, interesting, enthralling, engaging and fascinating with each step they took on this fully emotional trip through the past at a time that was spellbinding. Each took a different path that leads to the most inconceivable ending.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Peterson is a romance author that has just lost her husband and learned that he was having an affair. She is broken hearted and decides to take her daughter, Amanda, and her mother, Elizabeth on a beach get away. While there they attend a talk given by a time traveling professor and they agree to go back in time. The three women find themselves in 1938 Princeton, NJ.

Elizabeth connects with her immigrant parents that she lost many years earlier. She is introduced to herself as an infant and starts reliving events that she was too young to remember. With their lost she appreciates this time she gets to spend with them.

Susan is still mourning the loss of her husband and his betrayal. But she has found a new love with a widowed admiral. Amanda wants an adventure before she has to go join the rest of the adults working. Here she falls for German scientist Kurt during a fragile time with those of German decent.

I love John Heldt’s stories. There is lots of research with the different time periods from the clothing to how things were done and simply how people interacted with each other. It really makes me nostalgic when you compare that to today and how indifferent we are with each other.

I really enjoyed this story. All three women found the love that they were looking for and the ending was just perfect. I strongly recommend checking out this series if you like historical romances with a touch of time travel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Jilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the American Journey series and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Unlike the Carson Chronicles series that I read a while ago, this series doesn't follow the same characters throughout which is what I was expecting. This book is about 3 very strong women and their life in 1938. A very interesting time period.

These time travelling books really make me think about the possibilities........... do I think it is possible? There is so much that we still don't know about our world and much to be discovered in the future so my answer is yes, but probably not in my lifetime.

*********************

Filled with poignancy, heartbreak, and intrigue, MERCER STREET gives new meaning to sacrifice and commitment as it follows three strong-willed souls on the adventure of a lifetime.

Love, honor, and courage take center stage in the second book of John Heldt’s American Journey time-travel series as three women from the present become entangled in the past in the tension-filled months leading up to World War II.

Weeks after her husband dies in the middle of an affair, Susan Peterson, 48, seeks solace on a California vacation with her mother Elizabeth and daughter Amanda. The novelist, however, finds more than she bargained for when she meets a professor who possesses the secret of time travel.

Within days, the women travel to 1938 and Princeton, New Jersey. Elizabeth begins a friendship with her refugee parents and infant self, while Susan and Amanda fall for a widowed admiral and a German researcher with troubling ties.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in this series, that I've read in the book of three called American Story. I loved the first, September Sky, featuring a father and son. Mercer street features women who are three generations - grandmother, mother/daughter and daughter/granddaughter. I loved it just as much. The theme running through all of these stories is of a professor whose g-grandfather and his brother found, in 1900, a hidden cave where he found white and blue crystals and a formula that they realised was for time travel. The g-grandfather bought the materials from the cave and the formula to his home and built a tunnel under his house. Both men died shortly after, but the professor and his wife bough the house in the 21st century and found that one could walk through the tunnel to any yea in the 20th century. Whilst still dealing with a fantasy, the idea of the tunnel seems less fantastical than some time travel fiction. The professor invites certain people to travel back to the year of their choice out of the nine when the house was unoccupied. Proprietors might not take kindly to strangers walking out of or into their basement and back yard! I'm currently reading the third story, Indiana Belle, featuring a lonely Rhode Island scholar and enjoying it just as much. I will definitely read the fourth and fifth books and I hope there will be more.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three women—a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother—travel to Princeton, NJ, 1938. The girls begin this American journey with a road trip from CA to NJ, seeing the sights before roads and skyscrapers took over. Imagine being the only women in a male-dominated Princeton.

The overall read was fairly nice. I usually enjoy time-traveling stories as long as something interesting happens at some point. This one just seemed long and uneventful. Yes, the girls got away from being spectators and started experiencing the 1930’s, but nothing was really happening. We had a lot of descriptions—too much, in fact—but nothing was happening. Sure, it was a nice, little journey through an American era. I guess I wasn’t really getting much more than a scenic tour. I mean, I’m sure these women gain some enlightenment here, but this alone wasn’t enough to keep me going for 94 chapters. Yeah, that was too many chapters, too. Of course, this won’t keep me from trying out other books by this author.

An okay read.

[B S LUPTON NEILSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

FASCINATING!

Very interesting time-travel story, especially considering it was set in this century unlike others I've read....the timeline stayed where it should be and did not wander or stray from the time set in the story.

I was also impressed with the historical events accurately and faithfully recorded.

Most of all, I was particularly impressed with the well-constructed sentences and the excellent grammar! In most of today's writings, I see a lack of attention to proper tenses in verbs and there are so many dangling participial phrases that sometimes I'm so annoyed that I don't even finish the book! This one was a joy!

[Nan Adel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun travel back in time by John A. Heldt. I write time travel stories, also, so I find it interesting how his characters do it in a totally different way than mine. His time-tunnel makes you believe it’s possible.

This author links his fictional story with true events from that time perfectly. The relationship between the three generations of women (actually adding a fourth once they go back in time) was heart-warming to read. Each had their own experiences in this new world they were visiting.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like a glimpse into what it would feel like to travel to another time in history.

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible:This was kind of 'Time Travel lite'.A mother,daughter and grandmother go back to an earlier time 'just to visit'.There is to be no meddeling w/time.Of course they can't resist and we never get to know how their doing this affects the long run.It is fun to think about the concept.I found either the writing or narration a bit weird.Chaz Allen has a pleasant,sing song voice that seems too pleasant even when trouble is afoot.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”