Maybe This Time

by Susan B. James

A Second Chance Romance

Their Happily-Ever-After is over before it begins unless they can change time.

Forty-nine-year-old actress Jennifer Knight would rather eat worms than face her first husband. But when her niece Kat accidentally time travels them to 1988, she needs his help.

Lance Davies is more comfortable with computers than people. He never knew how to handle his beloved, mercurial Jen. But now her future self is here in front of him and he wants another chance.

Jen finds herself torn. Her traitorous body insists that home is in Lance’s arms, but her heart has trust issues.

Can two people whose timelines are thirteen years apart find a future where they can be together?

Genres: Time Travel, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2017

About the author

Susan writes second chance romances with a touch of magic as Susan B. James and children's books as Susan J. Berger. She writes older heroines because she is chronologically gifted and enjoys creating characters who remember that change is only on the outside. Inside our older shells is a much younger psyche.
In her debut romance, Time and Forever, two women in their sixties inadvertently travel back to London in 1969.
Maybe This Time, the companion book, won UnCaged Books’ 2019 Raven Award for contemporary romance, the 2019 Reader's Favorite Gold Medal for Time Travel, and was runner-up in the Audiobook –General category.
The third book in the trilogy is Irish Magic. No time travel involved but there is a leprechaun.
She’s currently pitching Lord Byron’s Daughter which tied for second in the 2021 Hearts Through History contest,(Victorian/time travel/WWII), and revising The Witches Garden. (Older heroine, magic, a snarky cat.) Susan's other career is acting. You can search her on IMDB as Susan Berger.

Social Media:
Website: http://susanbjames.com
Twitter: @susanjberger
Facebook Author page https://www.facebook.com/SusanJames/
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bergersusan...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Acting: https://www.susanbergeractor.com/

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible for two people who failed so miserably at love to get a second chance in another time and place? Are you ready for a time travel romance that is more romance than science fiction? Want to have some fun reading with characters that are completely likable and feel real, a little quirky as they flounder through time only able to guess at what could happen?

Susan B. James’s MAYBE THIS TIME is all about love, second chances and time travel as one teen, anxious to share something special with her forty-nine-year-old aunt accidentally send them back in time, instead of forward and it will begin a frantic chase through time to set things right. But could Fate be playing a hand in bringing Jen back together with Lance, not the Lance from her time, but from one several years different?

Definitely a fun read with pieces of history thrown in that give this story more depth. If you have ever wondered, “What if…?” This read may tell “the rest of the story,” and answer that question, at least for Jen and Lance!

I received a complimentary copy from Susan B. James! This is my honest and voluntary review!

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing, LLC (July 12, 2017)
Publication Date: July 12, 2017
Genre: Romance | Time Travel
Print Length: 193 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Sofie Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe This Time was such a fun way to step outside my usual reading patterns (historical romance / fiction / non-fiction) and enjoy a different (for me) sort of story. I found both the primary and the secondary characters to be well-fleshed out. In particular, I loved Jen's spunky attitude! Also, I thought Ms. James handled real-world events with a delicate, sensitive touch. I'll definitely be circling around to catch the first book of this series.

[Livey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful time travel romance❣️ Wow, I simply adored this story. 49 year old actress Jennifer is taken back in time to 1988 by her niece. When she runs into her ex husband Lance whom she hasn’t seen in 13 years. When her brother finds out they have to deal with the ultimate tragedy to find their way back to each other. Many characters from the first book (A Second Chance Romance) who are integral to this story are mentioned.

[Lynne Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moral of the story - Never let the teenager run the time machine!
Another delightful story from Ms. James, who has a natural, entertaining style of writing. Fast paced, clever, touching, and above all fun! Great way to escape from reality. Thank you!

[Susan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so what I think is prejudiced. So far, readers are finding it fun which makes me very happy.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting premise

Jennifer and Kat are transported back in time and this time Jennifer meets her husband, with whom she had parted ways some time back.
How Jennifer and her husband, find their love the second time around forms the story.
The story mixes romance with a little elements of science fiction and was unique and enjoyable. The plot was well crafted as it was a short, fun read. Liked it.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun time travel book.

I'm giving 4 1/2 stars?? Well crafted. Fun. Well written. Great follow up to the first book.

Full review to follow.

Well worth your time if you enjoy time travel, second chance romance, and stories that are lovingly written, carefully edited, and stress attention to detail.

Enjoy.

[Lynne Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a follow up to the wonderful "Time & Forever," which sent two women of a certain age back to '60's London. This time actress Jennifer Knight is the one transported back to 1980's London with her 19-year-old niece, where Jennifer becomes re-entangled with her ex-husband, Lance, who she's still deeply in love with, despite a horrible tragedy that ended their relationship. The ensuing action is a brilliantly executed time travel conundrum as Jennifer and Lance fight their attraction as they try to sort out all the character's needs to get to the right time and place to achieve goals as varied as surviving 9/11 and unification with their true loves. James is an engaging and enjoyable writer who delivers on all that traditional romance readers expect, plus time travel fun that allowed me to suspend my disbelief. Highly recommend.

[Joanne Guidoccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed Time and Forever, I knew I was in store for an entertaining read, filled with unforgettable characters traveling back and forth in time. I immediately connected with the delightful, older protagonists—Jennifer Knight and Lance Davies—and found myself rooting for their happily-ever-after in the most challenging of circumstances. An expert storyteller, Ms. James has a wonderful eye for detail and a gift for creating a strong sense of place as she transports us across three decades, from New York to London to Los Angeles. Captivated from the start, I read this well-written novel in two sittings.

[Linda Pennell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read written with originality and humor! From the first line of this book, I knew that the female main character, Jen, and I could be BFF's. James weaves a story that seamlessly blends history, time travel, romance, second chances, and hoped for resolution. It's a little bit romcom, a little bit women's fiction, and a whole lot of romance. Who among us would not want to go back to an earlier time in our lives to correct past mistakes or grab missed opportunities?

[Therese Gilardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this fantastic book. Although I am not normally a fan of time travel, for Susan B. James I make an exception -- if you haven't read "Time And Forever" you need to add it to your TBR pile. The characters are surprising, warm and funny and the story is quirky and unpredictable. The author does an excellent job of jumping between the past and present seamlessly.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

The reader is rooting for Lance and Jennifer throughout the whole story.

Read full review in the 2017 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Natasha Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The female character made the story! The author did such a wonderful job of bringing Jennifer Knight to life. She wrote the character in a way so that she was feminine, assured, and gave the reader a kind of fifties Hollywood flair. Think Marilyn Monroe.

Additionally, I really loved Jennifer with the male lead, Lance. You could see how the two were compatible. The author didn't just put them together for convenience. Their relationship actually made sense!

I think where the story fell short for me was is the middle. The beginning and end were both strong and intriguing. But the middle had a lot of drag. Sometimes the author took me up and other time she took me down and kept me there. Often, I'd become so bored with the drag, I'd glaze over some descriptions just to get to the next high. Part of this may be attributed to the fact the plot followed a vary straight path. I just wanted a bit more.

I will say the writing was well-done. I have no complaints on that front and it was honestly refreshing to see such good writing. No, this novella was not a page turner (I'm not sure if the author meant for it to be) but it does offer some entertainment, especially on a rainy day if you're looking for something to occupy you.

I'd like to read more from this author, maybe something a bit more fast paced and with more plot deviation.

[Pamela Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got such a kick out of the time-traveling 49-year old protagonist from Susan B. James! Maybe because I'm 51 and would occasionally like to go back in time. But also because she didn't *stay* there, she went forward to where she was older, and she was happy about it because she had l-o-v-e. Charming, funny, a nice twist on time traveling, romantic. I love discovering new authors. :)

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/13/2020)! 🎁

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story & Audible Listen🎧 4.5 Enjoyable Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Maybe This Time
A Second Chance Romance
By: Susan B. James
Narrated by: Stephanie Bentley

This is a great book, it is is well written with interesting storylines and characters. It is a time time travel novel with a side of second chance romance. The author did a great job blending both genres and created a beautiful story while doing so. I liked the concept how the time travel worked in this story, the descriptive details were easy to follow. The anomalies caused by the time travel was nice twist it a bit of suspense not knowing what was going to happen if they did not find a way to correct them. I loved the romance aspect of this story, how two people were in love but circumstances broke them up and they lived their life apart and full of regrets. They get a chance to meet again after one of them travels back in time. They are each in different places in their life but they are able to see the errors of their way. And they set everything straight between them and they vow their love for each other. But it will only be everlasting if they travel back to a time where they can exist together. I really liked Jennifer and Lance, I was rooting for them. I also liked Jeremy and Kat too, there are some great secondary characters as well, including Jennifer’s friend. I highly recommend this book, it is entertaining and there is never a dull moment. There are some heartfelt moments, it was heartbreaking to be brought back to the events of that horrific day, the authors description was realistic and respectfully done. It is a day I will #NeverForget. Thank you Susan B. James for this great story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

I listened to the Audible edition, Stephanie Bentley is a terrific narrator and voice performer. She brought these characters to life, gave each their own voice and personality. She did a great job with Jen’s accent as well as projecting the emotions of the characters and the drama of the story into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen🎧

[Penelope Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immensely enjoyed Ms. Susan B. James first time travel romance, “Time and Forever.” I was looking forward to her second novel, “Maybe This Time,” and it did not disappoint. It has the same quirky time travel question: Can we change the future by changing the past? In this second story, ”Maybe This Time,” it isn’t a question of finding a lost love, or a lost opportunity, but of rekindling love relationships, putting right what went wrong, and trying to make it last through the years.

The main character, Jennifer Knight, is an actress (echoing Ms. James’ acting career) who has moved on from a failed first marriage, or has she? Her beloved 19 year old niece Kat takes Jennifer on a time travel adventure to the past. There Jennifer re-connects with her first love, computer geek Lance Davies, and discovers that their feelings are still strong. Both want to reclaim their happily ever after, but there are some huge problems, like 9/11, which they must somehow survive. Jennifer’s computer genius brother Jeremy and Kat also have some time travel-romance issues to sort through. Can the two computer geniuses solve the time dilemmas and put everything to rights to save their collective futures? Grab the book and find out. It is a race against time – a fast-paced, exciting, and fully satisfying time travel romance novel. Highly recommended.

Totally hooked, I eagerly await the next installment in Ms. James Second Chance, time travel romance series. I have a few romances that I’d love to go back in time and give myself a second chance to “fix” and set them right. Where is a time portal when you need it?

[Belle Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can the second book in a series be as good as the first? Yes, it can, if you're reading Susan James' lovely tale of second chance romance, Maybe This Time.

Jennifer and Lance didn't get it right the first time, their marriage was a bust, but neither has ever managed to move on completely. When her niece accidentally takes them both back in time, Jen is forced to confront her demons. What neither Jennifer or Lance know is that their future, their very lives are tied to something that hasn't happened yet.

The author excels at witty dialogue and lovely vignettes that leave the reader wanting more. This is a charming book with indelible characters, the kind of people we'd love to know in our lives. I advise you to welcome them into your life by reading Maybe This Time.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time and Again sequel is here and I’m so glad! I enjoyed the first book in the series and this story is equally as good. The author does a great job conveying the heroine’s tough exterior and vulnerable interior as she risks opening herself again to love. As in the first book, the tricky time travel element is masterfully done. But this story has a deeper and edgier subplot where one of the possible futures is the hero and heroine may be destined to die in 9/11. This raises the stakes to the second chance love story but in this sweet tale the happily ever after is assured. A great beach read that I’d recommend to women’s fiction readers.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe This Time (A Second Chance Romance)
by Susan B. James
What an exciting journey through love and time. I so enjoyed the adventure of this story and how I, the reader, was able to see everything unfold through the different characters vantage points. It was funny and suspenseful and sad and romantic. I absolutely loved how this story stands on its own merit, even though I did catch some delightful references to things that happened in the first book,"Time and Forever". Beautiful, vivid characters and settings made this so real and possible! I absolutely loved it! Read it! Read it!

[The TBR Pile *Book review site* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time travel is always interesting for a plot but I had a hard time with it. Jennifer and the accidentally transported Kat are great characters. I like their personality. Lance is a great guy who has made some mistakes but he’s trying to atone. Together they make a sweet romance.

FULL REVIEW - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second chance romance features Jen Knight. An actress who is about to get a birthday present from her niece Kat that will leave her in a spin. This book was very enjoyable to read even with the whole time travel concept. I could see a little of Jen in myself. Plus there was a lot of funny one liners that made laugh out loud. Reviewed by Jennifer

[Judy Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

The intricacy of the time travel was hard to follow but overall a very satisfying book. I would read more by this author.

[Beverly Diehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming read, and there are lots of fun, playful touches - like her calling him Lancelot and him calling her Guinevere. It's also great that they are a (somewhat) older couple, in their forties, I think, though as they go through time portals they also get older or younger, so it's hard to tell.

Disclaimer: I am personally acquainted with the author.

I like time travel stories, and this one has lots of good twists and turns and explains some of the paradoxes in a believable way. However, especially at the beginning, I was a little bit lost. I also really like second chance love stories, and this seemed particularly apropos - a couple who were a perfect fit, but together at the wrong time, could well make a go of it, if they could only cross paths in the future - or is it the past?

Set in London, Los Angeles, and New York, the bombing of the World Trade Center is also a pivotal element. Having visited the site this summer, I was deeply moved, then, and was also deeply moved by the way that event was handled by these characters. Jen and Lance get their HEA, and this book turns out to be a happy, feel-good read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

It was only after I listened to this book that I found out that it is a sequel. I have not read the previous book in this series. This is a standalone book with no cliffhanger ending. I had no trouble following the characters or the plot not having read the previous book. Trigger warning: parts of this book cover the events of 9/11.

This is a well-written time travel book based on the idea of going back in time to second at a romance. Overall, I enjoyed this book, which has some good humor/witty dialogue. I did think the main characters resolved their differences, which had kept them apart for over a decade, rather quickly. The time travel aspects were interesting and I really enjoyed that the main character Jennifer ended up getting a job in a vintage clothing store - having great knowledge of fashion.

The narrator, Stephanie Bentley, did a very nice job. She did various accents and different voices for the characters to be able to easily distinguish who was speaking.

[Therobertstribe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected

From the blurb I expected this to be a time travel romance set in the 1980s where an estranged couple rediscover why they fell in love and fix the issues that destroyed them. In reality very little of this book was set in the 1980s. The love story was not gradual and relationship issues and problems were fixed far too easily to be believable. I found the characters quite two dimensional and couldn't really relate to them or sympathise much. I especially found Jen annoyingly selfish and spoilt.

That being said it was an easy read. The storyline was engaging (if a bit melodramatic for my taste) and it mostly kept my attention. I'm a big fan of books with a lot of character development, so that is probably why it didn't quite hit the mark for me, but it was an o.k. read.

The style reminded me of John A Heldt time travel books, so if you like them you will probably enjoy this.

[Deborah McEachern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given the higher ratings in Goodreads by other members, I was rather disappointed in this particular story. I love "time travel" books and am fond of the idea of second chances, but this one left me feeling a bit "eh". I found the characters resolved their emotional differences way too quickly, the middle portion of the book dragged and the ending was a bit contrived, especially using 9/11 as the crisis point.

To be fair, I finished reading the book on the anniversary of 9/11, and had just this year been to NYC and visited the site and the museum, so maybe I am more critical in my view right now about that.

There were definite hooks with the time travel aspect though, and I am sure many others will enjoy it. I just didn't like it as well as I have liked others in this genre...and I usually love a good romance.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jumping around in time

The idea of going back in time by accident and inadvertently changing something is very intriguing. The complexities of going back time to change some things for the better or to avoid tragedy was a real challenge for all the characters. I was really sucked into the story and enjoyed all the characters. The pop-culture references made me smile and the HEA was satisfying.

[Heather Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing

Confusing. I liked the first book but this one was confusing. I couldn’t figure out what year they were. There was too much jumping around. Also lance and Jen never resolved their past. They were now together but didn’t address the issues that separates them in the first place.

[Janet Male · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this just as much as the first book in this series, Time and Forever, and that says a lot. Great fun, different, quirky, great attention to detail. I highly recommend this trip to the past. Treat yourself to a most enjoyable read.