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Stealing Time #3
Killing Time
The Strongest Hurricane in Decades Takes Aim at Florida. Will Ronnie Escape its Wrath or be Lost in Time Forever?
Ronnie Andrews is lucky to be alive after a time travel glitch nearly took her life during Hurricane Frances. When Hurricane Ivan, one of the strongest storms in decades, sets its sights on Florida, Ronnie jumps at the chance to join Mike, her mysterious new boss, on a business trip to Puerto Rico,
Sparks fly, but when a newspaper article surfaces with horrific pictures of a woman who may have died at Mike's hands, Ronnie regrets the decision. Before she can confront Mike about what she knows, Hurricane Jeanne forms off the coast, trapping them on the island. Her doctors warned that another time-travel-induced illness may kill her. Mike may be her only salvation.
The storm strikes and Ronnie time travels to Texas in 1872 where she is kidnapped by Comanches. A rescue party saves her life led by Jesse and Frank James, hiding under assumed names.
Will Ronnie find a way to make the time-traveling episodes stop before the dangers of the past, and the damage from the journey destroy her?
Ronnie Andrews is lucky to be alive after a time travel glitch nearly took her life during Hurricane Frances. When Hurricane Ivan, one of the strongest storms in decades, sets its sights on Florida, Ronnie jumps at the chance to join Mike, her mysterious new boss, on a business trip to Puerto Rico,
Sparks fly, but when a newspaper article surfaces with horrific pictures of a woman who may have died at Mike's hands, Ronnie regrets the decision. Before she can confront Mike about what she knows, Hurricane Jeanne forms off the coast, trapping them on the island. Her doctors warned that another time-travel-induced illness may kill her. Mike may be her only salvation.
The storm strikes and Ronnie time travels to Texas in 1872 where she is kidnapped by Comanches. A rescue party saves her life led by Jesse and Frank James, hiding under assumed names.
Will Ronnie find a way to make the time-traveling episodes stop before the dangers of the past, and the damage from the journey destroy her?
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2021
222 people are currently reading
3077 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Waters
11 books747 followersKJ Waters is the international best-selling author of Stealing Time, Shattering Time, Killing Time, and short story Blow. Her books have been described as “breathtakingly original,” with “edge of your seat” action, and “characters are so well-written that they seem like real people.” Her Stealing Time Series books are often found on the Amazon best seller list next to Outlander and Michael Crichton’s Dragon’s Teeth and has reached #1 international bestselling status.
In addition to her writing, she is the runs KJ Waters Consultancy and the co-host of the podcast Blondie and the Brit (now making a comeback on TikTok), and provides author consulting services covering branding, social media, and publishing.
She has a Master’s in Business and over 22 years of experience in the marketing field. Before quitting her job to raise a family and work on writing she was the Director of Marketing and communications for a national behavioral healthcare company. For free chapters and giveaways visit her website at kjwaters.com.
Sign up for her newsletter for exclusive content and the first five chapters at www.kjwaters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 3, 2021
Killing Time is the piece de resistance of KJ Waters’ captivating trilogy of time travel, taking the reader on a wild ride through intrigue, suspense, romance, betrayal, and the most savage, destructive forces of nature during Hurricane Jeanne. The author masterfully captures powerful, but tortured and conflicted emotions the protagonist Ronnie has for Mike, who is far more than her boss and a budding love interest, as there seems to be an inexplicable connection between them that transcends space, time, and death itself. Despite his questionable, dark past, the raw sexual tension between them is undeniable. Circumstance thrusts them together and the author injects adrenaline into your veins as Ronnie and Mike struggle through the daunting task of surviving the storm, complicated by the mental and physical damage resulting from time travel and their attempt to elude the nefarious entity intent on causing them harm. KJ Waters adeptly balances the rich and diverse characters and subplots involving Ronnie’s father’s strange death; her arrogant genius ex-boyfriend Jeffrey who is being investigated by federal authorities for possible involvement in an experiment that may affect national security; and the waves of danger encountered in Jessie James’ old west, which was clearly thoroughly researched. The mystery begins to unravel as the amalgam of physics and metaphysics, the natural and supernatural, and time and space is more clearly revealed while Ronnie’s fiercely loyal friends work to shield her from harm. There is not a superfluous passage in this gripping book. Killing Time works as a stand-alone that does well in transitioning from KJ Waters’ first two books, Stealing Time, and Shattering Time. After reading her first two books she became my favorite contemporary author, and Killing Time is even better than her first two gems. KJ Waters is a phenomenon, and this series belongs on the big screen!
September 27, 2021
I found this to be a story that drew me in. There are lots of twists and turns and I couldn't put the story down. I am looking forward to more books by this author. I recevied an advanced reader copy of this book.
June 7, 2022
I’ve always been a fan of time travel, from books to movies to TV shows. But I’ve never had any actual interest in travelling through time myself (no antibiotics, no indoor plumbing). KILLING TIME has certainly reinforced my belief that time travel is not for the faint of heart (or me!).
The highlight of the book for me is the imaginative method through which Ronnie, our heroine, travels in time. Instead of physically travelling to another time (Back to the Future, Outlander), Ronnie slips into the lives of others living in another time (Quantum Leap style). Given that I read the third book in the series, and not the first two, Ronnie has some better insight in this book than I imagine she did in the first two novels. That’s great from my perspective. Knowing how\why she is travelling would be a mystery that I would want to be revealed early in the series.
I also appreciate the nod to the multiverse theory by author KJ Waters. There are subtle hints from the narrative that Ronnie might be visiting alternate versions of history. This novel further shows that it truly does pay to understand history to be a time traveler! From scenes with Frank and Jesse James to notes on the Civil War, Ronnie is thrown directly into history. As Ronnie explains to Mike:
“It is horrible, you’re right. The cost is too high. Despite the incredible opportunity to live how our ancestors lived for a brief time, the time traveling always ends in a horrible death.”
I was left wanting, though, at the end of the novel. I was expecting more time travelling, but there were only a few scenes. I also have some questions in the time travel process which were not answered. Specifically, I’d like to know what happens to those whose ‘consciousness’ Ronnie replaces while travelling back in time. Maybe that and more questions will be answered in the fourth novel? I guess we’ll need to stay tuned for that!
The characters in KILLING TIME are well developed and believable. For most of the novel, I really was not a fan of Ronnie. True, I understand that she is really struggling with being stuck in yet another hurricane (and travelling back in time once again). But for me, Ronnie’s indecisiveness and lack of confidence was grating. But once she finds her spine and starts to stand up for herself, I did a bit of a fist raise! Jeffrey, Ronnie’s boyfriend, is conniving and emotionally abusive. To say Jeffrey is slimy is an understatement. Rounding out the usual love triangle is Mike, Ronnie’s new boss. Mike is former military, trying to protect Ronnie, and an all-around good guy. I am team Mike for sure.
I was worried about picking up this series with having to read scenes describing the horrible hurricanes mentioned in the previous two books. But honestly, hurricanes should have been the least of my worries. There are four different sexual assault scenes in this novel. I can see how those scenes impact the plot, but genuinely did not enjoy reading those scenes.
KILLING TIME is an intriguing twist on time travel. There is a smattering of B-plot mystery, with a smattering of action and heroics. And enough of a cliff-hanger of an ending to have me intrigued to read the next novel in the series.
The highlight of the book for me is the imaginative method through which Ronnie, our heroine, travels in time. Instead of physically travelling to another time (Back to the Future, Outlander), Ronnie slips into the lives of others living in another time (Quantum Leap style). Given that I read the third book in the series, and not the first two, Ronnie has some better insight in this book than I imagine she did in the first two novels. That’s great from my perspective. Knowing how\why she is travelling would be a mystery that I would want to be revealed early in the series.
I also appreciate the nod to the multiverse theory by author KJ Waters. There are subtle hints from the narrative that Ronnie might be visiting alternate versions of history. This novel further shows that it truly does pay to understand history to be a time traveler! From scenes with Frank and Jesse James to notes on the Civil War, Ronnie is thrown directly into history. As Ronnie explains to Mike:
“It is horrible, you’re right. The cost is too high. Despite the incredible opportunity to live how our ancestors lived for a brief time, the time traveling always ends in a horrible death.”
I was left wanting, though, at the end of the novel. I was expecting more time travelling, but there were only a few scenes. I also have some questions in the time travel process which were not answered. Specifically, I’d like to know what happens to those whose ‘consciousness’ Ronnie replaces while travelling back in time. Maybe that and more questions will be answered in the fourth novel? I guess we’ll need to stay tuned for that!
The characters in KILLING TIME are well developed and believable. For most of the novel, I really was not a fan of Ronnie. True, I understand that she is really struggling with being stuck in yet another hurricane (and travelling back in time once again). But for me, Ronnie’s indecisiveness and lack of confidence was grating. But once she finds her spine and starts to stand up for herself, I did a bit of a fist raise! Jeffrey, Ronnie’s boyfriend, is conniving and emotionally abusive. To say Jeffrey is slimy is an understatement. Rounding out the usual love triangle is Mike, Ronnie’s new boss. Mike is former military, trying to protect Ronnie, and an all-around good guy. I am team Mike for sure.
I was worried about picking up this series with having to read scenes describing the horrible hurricanes mentioned in the previous two books. But honestly, hurricanes should have been the least of my worries. There are four different sexual assault scenes in this novel. I can see how those scenes impact the plot, but genuinely did not enjoy reading those scenes.
KILLING TIME is an intriguing twist on time travel. There is a smattering of B-plot mystery, with a smattering of action and heroics. And enough of a cliff-hanger of an ending to have me intrigued to read the next novel in the series.
September 18, 2021
Action packed, romantic suspense adventure
I fully enjoyed this read. This is book three but it is the first book of the series that I have read and I am happy to report that I was smoothly brought up to speed throughout the story. I was not lost at all starting with this book. Now I am looking forward to reading the first two books.
With that said, I thought this had an interesting and suspenseful plot and the story moved along at a fast pace with plenty of twists and turns. The characters were enjoyable even though the main character, Ronnie, sometimes was a little repetitive and whining, but not so much so that I was that disappointed in her. She did go though a lot and towards the end the book answered some of my ‘why’ questions. This book is not the end of the story, but I felt I was left with a conclusion. Not a cliffhanger, but there is more to the story. A good book that I recommend to read. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.
I fully enjoyed this read. This is book three but it is the first book of the series that I have read and I am happy to report that I was smoothly brought up to speed throughout the story. I was not lost at all starting with this book. Now I am looking forward to reading the first two books.
With that said, I thought this had an interesting and suspenseful plot and the story moved along at a fast pace with plenty of twists and turns. The characters were enjoyable even though the main character, Ronnie, sometimes was a little repetitive and whining, but not so much so that I was that disappointed in her. She did go though a lot and towards the end the book answered some of my ‘why’ questions. This book is not the end of the story, but I felt I was left with a conclusion. Not a cliffhanger, but there is more to the story. A good book that I recommend to read. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.
September 27, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2021
So exciting! I like Ronnie and her friends. Waters' characters are so well-written that they seem like real people. If you're new to this series, please start with Book #1. You won't regret it, and you'll understand the story so much better.
Ronnie time-travels during hurricanes. She doesn't know why. It started after her recent move to Florida.
The more it happens, the more her health is affected. Her best friend is lovely and helps Ronnie in so many ways. But the time travel needs to stop. Each visit is potentially deadly. Ronnie is as perplexed as her friends in figuring out how to just. Make. It. Stop.
If you like time travel, good friends and boyfriends (good and bad), as well as some meteorological hijinks, I think you'll really enjoy this series. It is unique.
So exciting! I like Ronnie and her friends. Waters' characters are so well-written that they seem like real people. If you're new to this series, please start with Book #1. You won't regret it, and you'll understand the story so much better.
Ronnie time-travels during hurricanes. She doesn't know why. It started after her recent move to Florida.
The more it happens, the more her health is affected. Her best friend is lovely and helps Ronnie in so many ways. But the time travel needs to stop. Each visit is potentially deadly. Ronnie is as perplexed as her friends in figuring out how to just. Make. It. Stop.
If you like time travel, good friends and boyfriends (good and bad), as well as some meteorological hijinks, I think you'll really enjoy this series. It is unique.
September 14, 2021
Just finished reading Killing Time. It is an awesome book! Lots of twist and turns. This book is action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you keep turning the pages till the end. Anxiously awaiting for the next book to see where it leads. I highly recommend this book as well as the first two in this series.
Merged review:
Just finished reading Killing Time. It is an awesome book! Lots of twist and turns. This book is action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you keep turning the pages till the end. Anxiously awaiting for the next book to see where it leads. I highly recommend this book as well as the first two in this series.
Merged review:
Just finished reading Killing Time. It is an awesome book! Lots of twist and turns. This book is action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you keep turning the pages till the end. Anxiously awaiting for the next book to see where it leads. I highly recommend this book as well as the first two in this series.
September 23, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book, its so different and is the last book of three. Unfortunately the main character Ronnie can travel back in time when hurricanes hit the area she is living or visiting. This is very dangerous and although she tries to leave her home and travels to a safer area a hurricane still finds her. Travelling with her boss Mike, Ronnie must face new challengers and find out what is causing her time travelling. I enjoyed reading this book and received this as part of the ARC Team.
September 30, 2021
Thank you for the free Arc
Another winner by one of my favourite authors
Well written, moves along great
So exciting
Another winner by one of my favourite authors
Well written, moves along great
So exciting
November 12, 2022
I am giving this a 4 because I really enjoy this series. This one however was a little slower than the other two but I think it could have been because there was so much time between when I read the first one and when this one came out. I do have to admit that I still got annoyed with Ronnie. I just feel like she can be a little annoying and definitely does not appear to be as strong as the author wants you to believe. She is also a little whiny and it is just patronizing to hear how beautiful she is all the time. That being said I do enjoy the time travel and the entire premise behind the series. This one got into how everything was happening which I enjoyed. I do want to see how the series ends up.
September 22, 2021
Soap opera type drama on steroids with deceit, sex and intrigue - 4.5 stars
This book grew on me. It started with a girl obsessed with muscular guys and guys obsessed with sex with beautiful women. As the story developed, there were back-in-time travel trips overlaid with powerful hurricanes.
There were three precepts basic to the story: (1) that hurricanes can be steered and (2) that the tremendous energy in a hurricane can be harvested and used as electrical power and (3) time travel can be induced.
Ronnie Andrews seems to be a ditzy beauty with slightly more than meets the eye. She has some odd stories about having visited people centuries ago that she says are more than dreams. Her close friends believe her.
Jeffrey Brennan is Ronnie's boyfriend but her friends have warned her that Jeffrey is controlling and manipulative. Her friends are correct.
Mike Walsh is Ronnie's boss. Mike has kept his body in top shape after leaving the marines but has an unknown past.
There are a few steamy scenes, a little breaking and entering and trips to the past including a meet-up with Jesse and Frank James. The historical adventures are done well with folksy descriptions including some twenty-first-century dialog spoken in several earlier centuries. The shallowness of some of the characters interest in body athletic body shapes was over the top. The richness of the plot including gradual "leaking" clues along the way makes this book a recommended read.
This book grew on me. It started with a girl obsessed with muscular guys and guys obsessed with sex with beautiful women. As the story developed, there were back-in-time travel trips overlaid with powerful hurricanes.
There were three precepts basic to the story: (1) that hurricanes can be steered and (2) that the tremendous energy in a hurricane can be harvested and used as electrical power and (3) time travel can be induced.
Ronnie Andrews seems to be a ditzy beauty with slightly more than meets the eye. She has some odd stories about having visited people centuries ago that she says are more than dreams. Her close friends believe her.
Jeffrey Brennan is Ronnie's boyfriend but her friends have warned her that Jeffrey is controlling and manipulative. Her friends are correct.
Mike Walsh is Ronnie's boss. Mike has kept his body in top shape after leaving the marines but has an unknown past.
There are a few steamy scenes, a little breaking and entering and trips to the past including a meet-up with Jesse and Frank James. The historical adventures are done well with folksy descriptions including some twenty-first-century dialog spoken in several earlier centuries. The shallowness of some of the characters interest in body athletic body shapes was over the top. The richness of the plot including gradual "leaking" clues along the way makes this book a recommended read.
September 24, 2021
This book is full of adventures, suspense, romance, tension and twists and turns.
It is Book 3 of the Stealing Time Series, and even though I haven't read the first two books I could still follow the ot without any problems, it can be read as a standalone.
Do not start this book if you don't have time to finish it, it is extremely long. At times it felt that it dragged a little and there where sections that felt irrelevant but in overall it was a very entertaining read and can't wait for book 4 to come out to find out what happens with the characters
It is Book 3 of the Stealing Time Series, and even though I haven't read the first two books I could still follow the ot without any problems, it can be read as a standalone.
Do not start this book if you don't have time to finish it, it is extremely long. At times it felt that it dragged a little and there where sections that felt irrelevant but in overall it was a very entertaining read and can't wait for book 4 to come out to find out what happens with the characters
September 22, 2021
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review. I am a fan of stories that include historical fiction with current time. Killing Time is action packed with time travel, hurricanes and survival. The characters came alive on the page and had me loving or loathing them. A massive hurricane is headed to Florida. Ronnie tries to flee by going to Puerto Rico with her boss Mike, but the hurricane follows her. Ronnie somehow travels in time and actually meets Jessie and Frank James. How could this be happening? Is Ronnie going to be stuck in the past? At times I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next chapter. Great read.
October 11, 2021
I have not read the first 2 books in this series yet. I think they may have helped me understand the characters more at first but this book can be read as a stand-alone. Ronnie time travels but only during hurricanes. She recently oved to FL from VA to be with her boyfriend and her timing couldn't have been worse. First there was Hurricane Charley, then Hurricane Frances. Having just returned from the hospital from a near death experience in Frances, Ronnie decides to avoid Hurricane Ivan and go to Puerto Rico for her job. Alas she time travels again, this time to the American West. The story from that time is just as interesting as what is going on in the present. All the characters were well developed and felt like friends. Ronnie is a strong and able heroine. Amazon says it has 690 pages-it was long but it didn't seem that long. The plot had several twists that kept me raptly reading. The author has obviously done her research as she details in the afterward. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and want to go back and read the first 2 before book 4 comes out next year. Thanks to the author for sending me a copy to read and review.
August 31, 2021
I received a copy of this book from the author.
This is book three in the “Time” series.
Oh wow! This book really got under my skin. I enjoy time travel stories and this one is no exception.
It combines the here and now with travelling back and forth through time.
Link that with love and betrayal and you have the perfect recipe for a gripping story.
This tale by KJ Waters had me alternately holding my breath and breathing out huge sighs of relief.
I found this to be a well written, easy to read and engrossing story that I heartily recommend.
The end, when it came, left me wanting to know what happens next. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review, the next book is some way off.
This is book three in the “Time” series.
Oh wow! This book really got under my skin. I enjoy time travel stories and this one is no exception.
It combines the here and now with travelling back and forth through time.
Link that with love and betrayal and you have the perfect recipe for a gripping story.
This tale by KJ Waters had me alternately holding my breath and breathing out huge sighs of relief.
I found this to be a well written, easy to read and engrossing story that I heartily recommend.
The end, when it came, left me wanting to know what happens next. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review, the next book is some way off.
September 28, 2021
Maybe you've read the first 2 books in this series: Stealing Time and Shattering Time, and you're asking yourself "Can a third book really keep up the exciting pace of those?" Well, I am here to answer that question: Yes, it can and it does!
We enter right back into Ronnie's world of friends and boyfriend and new boss and..... we're OFF and running, hoping for her sake all will be well. BUT before we get her to the safe zone - she encounters more scary, exciting, challenging travels that are not just in her mind, and are blowing ours.
Give yourself time to read this and ENJOY! I sure did. Another well-written action story.
We enter right back into Ronnie's world of friends and boyfriend and new boss and..... we're OFF and running, hoping for her sake all will be well. BUT before we get her to the safe zone - she encounters more scary, exciting, challenging travels that are not just in her mind, and are blowing ours.
Give yourself time to read this and ENJOY! I sure did. Another well-written action story.
September 28, 2021
Killing Time is the third book in the Stealing Time Series. While it can be easily enjoyed as a stand alone read, in my opinion it was much better having read the first two books. Time Travel books are some of my favorites and I enjoyed this book. Be forewarned it is a time siphon in the best of ways. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot, some you can see coming others take you completely by surprise. The characters and the story are well written, the historical aspects were some of my favorite parts. I look forward to what is next from KJ Waters.
October 4, 2021
Killing Time is the third book in a series by K.J. Waters. I have not read the other two but this can be read as a standalone. I haven't read a book that includes time travel for many years but I REALLY enjoyed this! Ronnie travels through time during hurricanes. It's really taking a toll on her body and she needs it to stop before it stops her! The historical aspects are really cool and now I have to go back and read the first two books in this series! I was given an early ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
September 28, 2021
I received this ebook as an ARC from the author return for a review.
A great read with good characters. I read the first book on Kindle Unlimited just to give me the background on the main characters. This isn’t really necessary, but I like reading all of the books in a series. Over the course of the series the characters get even better. Interesting take on time travel, with a few twists and turns…. Enjoy the ride!
A great read with good characters. I read the first book on Kindle Unlimited just to give me the background on the main characters. This isn’t really necessary, but I like reading all of the books in a series. Over the course of the series the characters get even better. Interesting take on time travel, with a few twists and turns…. Enjoy the ride!
September 22, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 27, 2021
Killing Time is a very good read and my first by this author but I will definitely have to read the rest of the books in this series. I really enjoyed the plot twists and all the action which had me gripping my kindle in my hand so tightly with the intensity of the story. I cannot wait for the next book. Highly recommend this book and series.
I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 27, 2021
This book is full of action, intrigue, envy, and unbelievable suspense! Time travel episodes that are so detailed, research that had to be intense. Characters you love, laugh with, cry with, and love to hate! Once I started reading this book, I was in hook, line, and sinker!
Im going backwards reading this series, yes, killing time is a very thorough book, and I’m sure it answers all the questions from 1 & 2, but I like starting from the beginning!
Im going backwards reading this series, yes, killing time is a very thorough book, and I’m sure it answers all the questions from 1 & 2, but I like starting from the beginning!
September 30, 2021
I received this book from author for an honest review. I have been waiting for this book and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't want to put this book down. The excitement of what was happening to Ronnie and what it had to do with the hurricanes. I wanted to see what Jeffrey was really up
to. Was Mike the person she Thought he was. K.J. Waters has done it again. Sent me on another thrill trip.
to. Was Mike the person she Thought he was. K.J. Waters has done it again. Sent me on another thrill trip.
October 28, 2023
This was one of my favorite books of all time, Until I got to the last. When I found out. that was. not a trilogy. and there was another book. that was supposed to be out already. I don't like books that end in the middle of a Story. There is no use in reading a book if you. can't even have an ending. And no idea when it might be out. I give this one *.
September 28, 2021
This was a great read, and a perfect follow-up to the previous two books! There were some tense moments in the book and I felt she captured the characters' emotions quite well, even in those tense scenes.
I know this is supposed to be Book 3 of 3 but I really hope to see more with these characters
I know this is supposed to be Book 3 of 3 but I really hope to see more with these characters
September 22, 2021
Amazing time travel romance! This is the third book in the series and although I loved the previous ones, this one was a real page turner. I enjoyed the twists of the plot and character development. I also liked historical scenes, they were true to life. Can't wait for the next book!
June 9, 2022
This review spans all three books in the Stealing Time series.
There are some series where you can pick up any volume and the overall story will make sense. KJ Waters' Stealing Time series is not one of them. Written for an audience clearly accustomed to binge-watching, this trilogy (so far) is a gripping story where each sequel expands the universe, adding characters and details.
Time travel, in general, is not a new concept in fiction, and these novels seem to be descendants of both Quantum Leap and Somewhere in Time, although in this case, there is no specific villain being tracked through history, but rather, the main character's sense of self and self-worth. What is unique is the mechanism behind the time travel: the use of storms – specifically hurricanes - to generate power.
That main character is Veronica “Ronnie” Andrews, recently relocated to central Florida, partly to take a new job, but also to be near her fiancé, the brilliant but conniving Jeffrey, and her best friend Steph. All seems to be progressing in a typical love-story direction, when a hurricane hits the Orlando area on Ronnie’s birthday, and Jeffrey whisks her off to his weather lab, wines and dines her, and presents her with a gift, a replica (he claims) of a rose-gold watch Ronnie admired on a trip to London with Steph.
And then Ronnie travels to London, in 1752, just in time for the great time-shift which has nothing to do with moving through centuries, and everything to do with England finally joining the rest of the western world in using the Gregorian calendar (and subsequently eliminating eleven days of September from existence).
To be honest, there’s not that much time travel for a series centered upon the concept. In Stealing Time, it’s 1752 London, in Shattering Time, it’s the lost Roanoke colony, and in Killing Time, it’s the Old West, though in each of these trips, Ronnie is not quite in the place we know, but rather a similar parallel universe (the multi-verse theory is mentioned in the novels). In each time, Ronnie encounters people who help her, and people who wish her harm, and in each she must take drastic measures to return home.
Author KJ Waters has created, in this series, a group of compelling, if not always likeable, characters. Ronnie, at the heart, is a mixture of intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and low self-esteem. At times, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Jeffrey is a manipulator and a gas lighter, and it’s a credit to the author’s writing skills that my dislike of him is so visceral that I wanted to commit violence to his person.
Steph and her eventual partner Nick are good support characters, with development that grows throughout the series, but while they are integral to the main story, providing Ronnie with a support system, the subplot following their romance felt weak to me, and took time away from the main story. When Steph’s raunchy brother Ian joins the action in the latter two books and the b-team turns more toward detective work with smatterings of romance, the entire series becomes both more interesting and more cohesive.
Also important to the story, in books two and three (especially three) is Ronnie’s boss Mike, and the nearly instant connection they seem to have. Mike comes off a stock hero at first, but as his story unwinds, he becomes dimensional and interesting, and I’d happily read a novel focused entirely on him.
Overall, KJ Waters does three things very well in this series:
Pacing, which more than makes up for the few minor plot- and character inconsistencies (spellings of names, and chronology errors) – each book feels both complete and one act in a greater whole, and that balance is tricky to navigate.
Attention to Detail, including little details of historical accuracy like how people cleaned themselves after using the toilet, or what sorts of oral hygiene were practiced, as well as her obvious research into quantum physics and weather systems.
Description: I felt and heard every moment of each storm, saw each flash of lightning, experienced the confusion of stumbling around in the damp, dark after a power outage. Similarly, the depictions of each time period Ronnie visited were cinematic in the way they were described on the page.
There is one thing, though, that should be addressed. I am not a prudish reader. I like a well-written sex scene as much as anyone. Much of the sex in these novels, however, while depicted with a good sense of space and how anatomy fits into it, is not healthy or loving, but used to manipulate and abuse, and, in some cases, assault. It’s not gratuitous, as it shows who certain characters really are, and how they perceive the world, but sensitive readers should be warned. I found some of the scenes distasteful, but I also understood that they were meant to be.
The Stealing Time trilogy is a refreshing take on time travel and a compelling blend of science, fantasy, mystery, romance, and intrigue. The author has said that book four is due next year, and I cannot wait to see how this story continues.
Goes well with cold beer and a sandwich de mezcla (a Puerto Rican sandwich made with a spam/cheese dip spread and roasted red peppers).
There are some series where you can pick up any volume and the overall story will make sense. KJ Waters' Stealing Time series is not one of them. Written for an audience clearly accustomed to binge-watching, this trilogy (so far) is a gripping story where each sequel expands the universe, adding characters and details.
Time travel, in general, is not a new concept in fiction, and these novels seem to be descendants of both Quantum Leap and Somewhere in Time, although in this case, there is no specific villain being tracked through history, but rather, the main character's sense of self and self-worth. What is unique is the mechanism behind the time travel: the use of storms – specifically hurricanes - to generate power.
That main character is Veronica “Ronnie” Andrews, recently relocated to central Florida, partly to take a new job, but also to be near her fiancé, the brilliant but conniving Jeffrey, and her best friend Steph. All seems to be progressing in a typical love-story direction, when a hurricane hits the Orlando area on Ronnie’s birthday, and Jeffrey whisks her off to his weather lab, wines and dines her, and presents her with a gift, a replica (he claims) of a rose-gold watch Ronnie admired on a trip to London with Steph.
And then Ronnie travels to London, in 1752, just in time for the great time-shift which has nothing to do with moving through centuries, and everything to do with England finally joining the rest of the western world in using the Gregorian calendar (and subsequently eliminating eleven days of September from existence).
To be honest, there’s not that much time travel for a series centered upon the concept. In Stealing Time, it’s 1752 London, in Shattering Time, it’s the lost Roanoke colony, and in Killing Time, it’s the Old West, though in each of these trips, Ronnie is not quite in the place we know, but rather a similar parallel universe (the multi-verse theory is mentioned in the novels). In each time, Ronnie encounters people who help her, and people who wish her harm, and in each she must take drastic measures to return home.
Author KJ Waters has created, in this series, a group of compelling, if not always likeable, characters. Ronnie, at the heart, is a mixture of intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and low self-esteem. At times, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. Jeffrey is a manipulator and a gas lighter, and it’s a credit to the author’s writing skills that my dislike of him is so visceral that I wanted to commit violence to his person.
Steph and her eventual partner Nick are good support characters, with development that grows throughout the series, but while they are integral to the main story, providing Ronnie with a support system, the subplot following their romance felt weak to me, and took time away from the main story. When Steph’s raunchy brother Ian joins the action in the latter two books and the b-team turns more toward detective work with smatterings of romance, the entire series becomes both more interesting and more cohesive.
Also important to the story, in books two and three (especially three) is Ronnie’s boss Mike, and the nearly instant connection they seem to have. Mike comes off a stock hero at first, but as his story unwinds, he becomes dimensional and interesting, and I’d happily read a novel focused entirely on him.
Overall, KJ Waters does three things very well in this series:
Pacing, which more than makes up for the few minor plot- and character inconsistencies (spellings of names, and chronology errors) – each book feels both complete and one act in a greater whole, and that balance is tricky to navigate.
Attention to Detail, including little details of historical accuracy like how people cleaned themselves after using the toilet, or what sorts of oral hygiene were practiced, as well as her obvious research into quantum physics and weather systems.
Description: I felt and heard every moment of each storm, saw each flash of lightning, experienced the confusion of stumbling around in the damp, dark after a power outage. Similarly, the depictions of each time period Ronnie visited were cinematic in the way they were described on the page.
There is one thing, though, that should be addressed. I am not a prudish reader. I like a well-written sex scene as much as anyone. Much of the sex in these novels, however, while depicted with a good sense of space and how anatomy fits into it, is not healthy or loving, but used to manipulate and abuse, and, in some cases, assault. It’s not gratuitous, as it shows who certain characters really are, and how they perceive the world, but sensitive readers should be warned. I found some of the scenes distasteful, but I also understood that they were meant to be.
The Stealing Time trilogy is a refreshing take on time travel and a compelling blend of science, fantasy, mystery, romance, and intrigue. The author has said that book four is due next year, and I cannot wait to see how this story continues.
Goes well with cold beer and a sandwich de mezcla (a Puerto Rican sandwich made with a spam/cheese dip spread and roasted red peppers).
October 5, 2025
This is book 3 in the series. I couldn't put this book down it kept me hooked all the way through!
September 27, 2021
An interesting read
A totally different story and plot. Great for science fiction fans.
A totally different story and plot. Great for science fiction fans.
September 27, 2021
This was a good if not great continuation of the series. I felt it was a little uneven and it was at times hard to keep focused on.
September 28, 2021
Lots of suspense to keep you intrigued. Ronnie gets stuck with time travel, back and forth. Hurricanes and lots of danger to grip you from the start. A story not to be missed.
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