Winter's Kiss

Time After Time #1.5

by Dee Davis

Now that the overbearing men in her family are gone, Ailis Davidson sees the chance to right her family’s many wrongs and bring peace to the valley she loves. The only problem is that someone wants her dead. Ranald Macqueen has lived his life brandishing a sword for others. Now on the eve of his greatest triumph, serving as guard for his king, a wee fairy of a woman has interrupted those plans with the need of his protection. As Ailis and Ranald fight against an unknown enemy, they are drawn together by a powerful connection. A love that promises something greater than either of them has ever imagined. But before they can have a chance at true happiness—they have to survive.

Genres: Time Travel, Historical

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2020

About the author

Award winning author Dee Davis worked in association management before turning her had to writing. Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she is the author of over thirty novels and novellas, including her current A-Tac series and Cottage in the Mist. When not sitting at the computer, Dee spends time exploring Connecticut with her husband, daughter, and Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Reviews

[Magpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella is a direct continuation of Everything In Its Time, but following Ailis and Ranald rather than Katherine and Iain. It's been several months since the end of the last book and the fist thing we see is Ailis getting attacked, again. And she's saved by Quinn, a woman from Texas in the future. And that's all the time travel shenanigans we get.

For a second I thought this might be a lesbian love story. Ailis is firmly against men, including her old flame Ranald, and this is a time travel series so I got a little excited when Quinn stepped in to save the day. But she never comes back after her introduction.

Yes I'm glad Ailis wasn't raped or anything, but putting Quinn there seemed like a cheap way to validate this novella as being part of the time travel series. It was just a bit disappointing that there wasn't more going on.

And the romance. I don't understand how they have less chemistry now as the main character than they did before as side characters. Ailis spends all her time fighting her supposed attraction to Ranald until Manus arrives where she spontaneously proclaims she's wedded to Ranald. And apparently that and a couple of witnesses is all you need to be married. So whoops, she's accidently married this man, but there's no shenanigans because of it. They both are suddenly wildly in love and accept things as they are.

And then Ailis is kidnapped in basically the exact way Katherine was in the last book. By being led outside by a trusted servant to a man waiting on horseback. Except Manus is completely incompetent and lets her run back into the tunnels resulting in a very short fight scene where Manus is killed. For someone so hyped up, he did barely anything.

That's the whole story. Ailis and Ranald go back to her home to fix things but we have no idea if they succeed or not. I guess the important part is that our main characters are together and no one thinks of Quinn ever again.

Seriously, what was with Quinn? Is she seriously never going to come back? It's inconsequential I know, but it really bothers me! I wanted to know more about her.

[Elaine C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this was actually a Novella (a shortened novel) and what I consider a continuation of the first book in the series. The main characters were introduced in the original book (but they were secondary characters in the first book) and it kind of finishes what the first book started!!! LOVED the way it all tied together ... much less time traveling involved, but at the most impactful moments!!! I'd recommend reading these two books together as a complete novel.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expected more came away with less.

Eh! You could use your own imagination to know where the story was going. I don't know if it was coincidence or not their being similar character names from another book series, but I'll let it be. This is more of a novella than a full story with a satisfying ending. I didn't start with the first book which shouldn't be a requirement but a want that I will not fulfill. I want to get lost in the world created by the writer and this story had too many starts and stops that lacked cohesion to make sense of it all.

[The Shopping Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but perhaps not AS good as the 1st book

Continuing on from the 1st book of Katherine and Iain, we see Ailis and Ranard continue their story.
It was enjoyable, but I didn't find it as gripping as the 1st book... Possibly because the attempted abduction pretty much mirrored that of Sorcha leading Katherine out I the tunnels... So I hope the next instalment won't be another copy (!)... A bit more time travel would've been nice as well

I read this book as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription (free book but I have to pay £7.99 a month for the subscription)

[Marsha Reiniers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series does not disappoint

The second book in Time After Time Series, Winter’s Kiss, is a sweet romantic novel about Ranald and Allis … Allis has come into her own in this book, a strong leader, and Ranald proves his mettle as a champion for the woman he comes to love. If you liked Book one, this one won’t disappoint!

[Kathy Danheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

love so sweet

A very sweet story of fate. Sometimes we don’t know what is best for us. What we think can be totally different. That’s exactly what Ailis and Ranald discovered. Their lives will never be the same.

[Deb Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Love stories that transcend time… what more could one ask for? Great writing, storyline and excellent characters. How does one get the love of their life without being brave enough to fight for it. Enjoy!!!

[Phylis Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winters Kiss

This is book 2 in the amazing series Time After Time by Dee Davis. Love both stories as the story unfolds you will keep reading to find out what happens next. I so enjoyed the couples.

[Margaret Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and rewarding

The story was fast and full of mystery. So glad they made it too the end. Many different plans in the works, of who would be the lord of the clan. So happy for the great ending.

[Constance R. Spotts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dee's stories. She brings you in and gives you the best.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite read

As always Dee Davis does not let the reader down! Always a joy to read. I'm not sure why I never read this book sooner.

[Rebecca Delio · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL STORY

I really enjoyed this story and was happy to see the two of them together and happy like the first story.

[Sar Wads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this. There was a moment or two where the FMCs pride irritated me(just communicate), I still enjoyed this quick novella. I believed in there love and future.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Twists and turns around every corner. Keeping me guessing the whole way through the story. My favorite way to go

[Vivian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply sweet

I started not to read this because it diverged to tell a short story of Ailis and not Katheryn and Iaine. Short sometimes predictable but a sweet enjoyable quick read.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter’s Kiss

Ailis is to take over her clan because her father and brother are dead. With problems getting there she found love and someone to help her lead.