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Timepiece
France, 1917.Frank is an ordinary soldier who has been fighting and surviving in the trenches of the Great War for years. Archibald is an officer working far from the front lines and their horrors. When Archibald is sent forward, Frank is assigned to help him both with his work and with navigating the daily terrors of the front line. But perhaps the greatest danger is not the enemy, but the relationship growing between them. And what happens when the war ends?
- GenresHistoricalM M Romance
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2020
6 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Merinda Brayfield
3 books26 followersMerinda Brayfield is a writer by day, IT wizard by night living in Texas. She has a self-published book and written many unique stories. Merinda is a semi-professional extrovert who spends her time immersed in twitter @merindab, fangirling about Doctor Who and cuddling her dog Church.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 10, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This is a beautifully written historical romance with an emphasis on the romance. For some books, the historical aspect becomes diffuse and generalized, so much so that the story could take place in almost any time period, but this story is so well told with such sincerity and grounded realism and it felt very much like a 1920s, World War I romance. The politics of rank, the realities of Frank’s marriage, the discrete speculation about Archibald, a confirmed bachelor, and even the steps the two men had to take to be with one another all highlight the time period.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This is a beautifully written historical romance with an emphasis on the romance. For some books, the historical aspect becomes diffuse and generalized, so much so that the story could take place in almost any time period, but this story is so well told with such sincerity and grounded realism and it felt very much like a 1920s, World War I romance. The politics of rank, the realities of Frank’s marriage, the discrete speculation about Archibald, a confirmed bachelor, and even the steps the two men had to take to be with one another all highlight the time period.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
January 13, 2021
Okay, I loved this for so many reasons.
Yes, my friend wrote it but that’s only one of them!
Firstly: the research is clear, something I appreciate as a voracious reader and learner. Lately I am seeing so much garbage thrown up on kindle unlimited and stuff, categorized as historical fiction but with the most cursory research done, and to any reader with some actual knowledge, that shows, in a choppy nonsensical plot. Merinda, whom I know personally to read a ton of nonfiction and take her research seriously, has not only conveyed that she’s done her research as a writer, but also made it digestible for a reader. There are no paragraphs regurgitated from an encyclopedia, but the objects of daily use, the speech, many details are clearly accurate and included organically. I was so impressed.
The second plays into this – readability. This was such a smooth and engaging read that I found it quick to breeze through large chunks at a time even when I only had a quick break. The conversations aren’t stilted by stiff period language and flow very well, as do descriptions. There’s not too much detail either, that you become inundated and lose track of the real story, the romance.
Finally, the romance! What a sweet pairing. But the main part of the romance that worked for me was the realism. Though there’s a happy ending, there’s a gritty pragmatism to aspects of the romance that highlight the obstacles for such a couple in such a place and time, plus, you know, a world war. You can’t just have a happy ending in post-world war I England, with marriages and things in the way. I loved how Archibald respected Frank trying to respect his life before the war. These were mature, sensible characters and the comfort they found in each other was an absolute joy to read.
If you’d like a fairly quick, enjoyable queer read, I would highly recommend Timepiece!
Yes, my friend wrote it but that’s only one of them!
Firstly: the research is clear, something I appreciate as a voracious reader and learner. Lately I am seeing so much garbage thrown up on kindle unlimited and stuff, categorized as historical fiction but with the most cursory research done, and to any reader with some actual knowledge, that shows, in a choppy nonsensical plot. Merinda, whom I know personally to read a ton of nonfiction and take her research seriously, has not only conveyed that she’s done her research as a writer, but also made it digestible for a reader. There are no paragraphs regurgitated from an encyclopedia, but the objects of daily use, the speech, many details are clearly accurate and included organically. I was so impressed.
The second plays into this – readability. This was such a smooth and engaging read that I found it quick to breeze through large chunks at a time even when I only had a quick break. The conversations aren’t stilted by stiff period language and flow very well, as do descriptions. There’s not too much detail either, that you become inundated and lose track of the real story, the romance.
Finally, the romance! What a sweet pairing. But the main part of the romance that worked for me was the realism. Though there’s a happy ending, there’s a gritty pragmatism to aspects of the romance that highlight the obstacles for such a couple in such a place and time, plus, you know, a world war. You can’t just have a happy ending in post-world war I England, with marriages and things in the way. I loved how Archibald respected Frank trying to respect his life before the war. These were mature, sensible characters and the comfort they found in each other was an absolute joy to read.
If you’d like a fairly quick, enjoyable queer read, I would highly recommend Timepiece!
January 8, 2022
Even after I bought this book I took my sweet time to get to it because it isn't the type of book I usually read. I don't choose historical pieces because, as much as I love to learn history, when I'm reading for fun I want the plot and the drama and the relationships. But Merinda does not disappoint! It's a wartime story so of course historical topics must be mentioned in detail, but Merinda only gives us what we need to know without impeding on the story of a heartbreakingly beautiful queer relationship we follow through the frontlines, to Paris, to London. Reading other stories with similar attempts to include queer relationships have often read too forced or lacking emotion but Timepiece reads exactly like every other historical romance should, gay or not. Now that I've read it I could kick myself for not reading it earlier.
January 18, 2021
I will start by saying that my friend is the author of this book. But while that might have been the reason I picked it up in the first place, I can honestly say it was the story that kept me reading.
I don't normally read books about war. I find them too bleak and depressing and I usually read novels to escape that feeling in real life. And while Timepiece definitely has some depressing and dark points, the overall theme is one of hope and love conquering all.
The two main characters, Frank and Archibald, are fighting a war both inside and out. While World War I rages all around them, occasionally drawing them into life-threatening situations and bringing the loss of people for whom they care deeply, they both struggle to love one another in a world that wants to keep them apart. The difference in their class and ranks, the laws against homosexuality are obstacles that they must overcome to get what they truly want.
The characters feel real, their struggles are ones people have faced in times of war and in times of peace. The book captured their fears, their love in a way that made me feel it too. I will definitely be revisiting this book when I need to feel hope in a world where everything feels hopeless. It's just that good.
I don't normally read books about war. I find them too bleak and depressing and I usually read novels to escape that feeling in real life. And while Timepiece definitely has some depressing and dark points, the overall theme is one of hope and love conquering all.
The two main characters, Frank and Archibald, are fighting a war both inside and out. While World War I rages all around them, occasionally drawing them into life-threatening situations and bringing the loss of people for whom they care deeply, they both struggle to love one another in a world that wants to keep them apart. The difference in their class and ranks, the laws against homosexuality are obstacles that they must overcome to get what they truly want.
The characters feel real, their struggles are ones people have faced in times of war and in times of peace. The book captured their fears, their love in a way that made me feel it too. I will definitely be revisiting this book when I need to feel hope in a world where everything feels hopeless. It's just that good.
January 1, 2022
The story of how Frank and Archibald survive the trenches of World War I while acknowledging their developing feelings for each other and coping with the homophobia of the period is quietly powerful and touching. My heart ached for them, kept apart so often. The details put the reader in the mud and the noise with them, as their proximity and the way they learn to trust each other deepens into more. I wish that we had more of them in their happy ending -- they went through so much time and loneliness to get there that I wanted to see more of them in love together.
Recommended for fans of the slow burn with touch of period-specific realism.
Recommended for fans of the slow burn with touch of period-specific realism.
March 23, 2021
I'm sorry, but it didn’t do it for me. I'm 45% through the book and I can't finish it. It's not that it's poorly written, but the pace is too slow and there's not enough action. I feel like I could sum up half the book in a few sentences because nothing happens, really. I'm sorry. They work, they eat, they are sad about the loss of human life etc. Repeat. Slow, slow,slow. They are attracted by men, but they don't do much in this regarde. The attraction and temptation are there, but seems shallow and too undertone to me.
June 2, 2021
Wonderful story! I was sucked in almost immediately. You really came know these characters and cared what happened to them. No spoilers, but only happy endings here.
July 14, 2021
This is a nice story about two WWI soldiers. It begins later in the war as one character is an officer and the other, an enlisted man, is assigned to be his assistant. There's lots to like here: the writing and plot are very good and the character development is excellent through the dual POV. I love books set during WWI mostly because of the high stakes. Unfortunately the author didn't mine the emotional potential in the story. The tension of the situation -- serving in the trenches, hiding emotions, fear of discovery or death, grief just didn't come across.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews