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As Time Unfolds
A young girl disappears. Can secrets inside a three centuries-old journal save her life in time?
Advertising agency owner, Bethany Miller, inherits an ancestral home from the biological mother she never knew. Inside a grandfather clock named The Timekeeper, she discovers a treasured family journal. Generations of first daughters each wrote one entry, sharing family secrets, chronicling courageous acts, the freeing power of forgiveness and more.
Reading the women's stories and timeless wisdom, Bethany begins to reassess her busy life and contemplates taking a chance on romance, but she can't forget an alarming encounter with a girl's soul-piercing eyes. They shot her a dire warning . . . right before she disappeared. Those eyes cause Bethany's past, present and future to collide.
Is history right on time to save a girl's life?
A modern-day suspenseful tale with elements of historical fiction, As Time Unfolds, will captivate you from the start and keep you guessing until The Timekeeper chimes twelve.
Advertising agency owner, Bethany Miller, inherits an ancestral home from the biological mother she never knew. Inside a grandfather clock named The Timekeeper, she discovers a treasured family journal. Generations of first daughters each wrote one entry, sharing family secrets, chronicling courageous acts, the freeing power of forgiveness and more.
Reading the women's stories and timeless wisdom, Bethany begins to reassess her busy life and contemplates taking a chance on romance, but she can't forget an alarming encounter with a girl's soul-piercing eyes. They shot her a dire warning . . . right before she disappeared. Those eyes cause Bethany's past, present and future to collide.
Is history right on time to save a girl's life?
A modern-day suspenseful tale with elements of historical fiction, As Time Unfolds, will captivate you from the start and keep you guessing until The Timekeeper chimes twelve.
- GenresFiction
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2022
About the author
Barbara Zerfoss
1 book23 followersBarbara Zerfoss is a former marketing vice president for a multibillion-dollar global corporation. Now, she serves as an executive coach, working with CEOs and other executives to create purpose-filled visions for the futures they desire. The proud mother of two grown sons, Marco and Mario, she’s married to Dave, who welcomed her into his family of four grown children and six grandchildren. Barbara spends most of her time at her home in North Carolina, where her backyard ponds and frequent guests to her bird feeders call upon her daily to pause her hectic life and enjoy the moment. When not in North Carolina, she enjoys her residence in Florida, what she calls her place of retreat and renewal. There, she especially enjoys sea turtle nesting season when new hatchlings make their way to the ocean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 11, 2022
“Eyes were impossible to disguise. They always spoke truths from deep within the soul.”
✮ ✮ ✮
*** anything 3 star and above is still a positive review. I consider a three star review to be more of a positive-neutral review.
I enjoyed this book, however there were also so many problems with it that I can’t ignore. This is a really good story of found family and romance, and that’s what it should have been. I loved Bethany, Nick and Peter’s stories and they were the main attraction here. The suspense and thriller side of it should have been cut out. While it was a surprise, it honestly didn’t fit in well with the storyline.
The story in itself has a good premise and is engaging and enjoyable, however it was clunky and the flow was off. The suspense part of it wasn’t very suspenseful. We knew girls were going missing, but the main character didn’t, so why share it with the reader? It didn’t add anything to the story. Along with the “timekeeper chimes…” at the end of certain chapters. Some of the paragraphs and speech was also a bit fake, and too descriptive, it felt as if it was filling space. I loved the premise that we are all made for a higher calling, but this seemed to be related to God. What about those that aren’t religious? This isn’t advertised as Christian fiction.
Overall a good read, if you can get past the fact there’s just random stuff dropped in throughout.
✮ ✮ ✮
*** anything 3 star and above is still a positive review. I consider a three star review to be more of a positive-neutral review.
I enjoyed this book, however there were also so many problems with it that I can’t ignore. This is a really good story of found family and romance, and that’s what it should have been. I loved Bethany, Nick and Peter’s stories and they were the main attraction here. The suspense and thriller side of it should have been cut out. While it was a surprise, it honestly didn’t fit in well with the storyline.
The story in itself has a good premise and is engaging and enjoyable, however it was clunky and the flow was off. The suspense part of it wasn’t very suspenseful. We knew girls were going missing, but the main character didn’t, so why share it with the reader? It didn’t add anything to the story. Along with the “timekeeper chimes…” at the end of certain chapters. Some of the paragraphs and speech was also a bit fake, and too descriptive, it felt as if it was filling space. I loved the premise that we are all made for a higher calling, but this seemed to be related to God. What about those that aren’t religious? This isn’t advertised as Christian fiction.
Overall a good read, if you can get past the fact there’s just random stuff dropped in throughout.
April 1, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Morgan James, and Barbara Zerfoss for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
My heart breaks having to rate As Time Unfolds so low. I really wanted to love this debut novel. It had a promising premise and the idea of a mystery unfolding over the span of centuries through a journal is really interesting. Unfortunately, there were too many aspects of this book that just did not sit right with me.
For one, the writing style seemed quite clunky and stilted, with odd phrasing and dialogue that didn't seem natural. There were scenes thrown in randomly and many chapters were just filler. Also, there was a lot more telling rather than showing; this is Bethany, she's passionate, these things are happening, these characters feel this way, etc. I never got to experience any emotions or really connect to the characters or plot because I was just being told things about them and not seeing any complexity or depth.
More than anything else though, I did not like the way the more sensitive topics in the novel were handled. Human trafficking in Costa Rica is an incredibly horrible, real thing and I can see how the author might have been trying to highlight that, but in my opinion, it was not done well. The real problem was overshadowed by the main character being this "savior" and it just left a bad taste in my mouth. For example:
Obviously, I'm in the minority when it comes to my opinion on this book, at least compared to other reviewers who received the ARC. However, I couldn't bring myself to give a higher rating than a one-star.
My heart breaks having to rate As Time Unfolds so low. I really wanted to love this debut novel. It had a promising premise and the idea of a mystery unfolding over the span of centuries through a journal is really interesting. Unfortunately, there were too many aspects of this book that just did not sit right with me.
For one, the writing style seemed quite clunky and stilted, with odd phrasing and dialogue that didn't seem natural. There were scenes thrown in randomly and many chapters were just filler. Also, there was a lot more telling rather than showing; this is Bethany, she's passionate, these things are happening, these characters feel this way, etc. I never got to experience any emotions or really connect to the characters or plot because I was just being told things about them and not seeing any complexity or depth.
More than anything else though, I did not like the way the more sensitive topics in the novel were handled. Human trafficking in Costa Rica is an incredibly horrible, real thing and I can see how the author might have been trying to highlight that, but in my opinion, it was not done well. The real problem was overshadowed by the main character being this "savior" and it just left a bad taste in my mouth. For example:
“Her dark, Latin eyes screamed Don’t leave me! Bethany held up one finger. “One moment,” she said to the bound and gagged girl.”
Obviously, I'm in the minority when it comes to my opinion on this book, at least compared to other reviewers who received the ARC. However, I couldn't bring myself to give a higher rating than a one-star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2022
As Time Unfolds is a Literary Fiction book with a little of everything mixed in. A surprise inheritance leads successful business owner Bethan Miller to uncover her family’s past and try to discover herself in the process. Though it is conceptually intriguing and has some good moments, the execution of this story missed the mark for me.
Owner of a successful advertising agency, Bethany Miller is living her dream. That is, until she finds out she has inherited an estate from her biological mother. Even though she has never met the woman, news of her death reopens somes old wounds and stirs a curiosity about her family history Bethany has never experienced before. Whether or not she decides to keep the estate, a visit may just help uncover some of the answers she seeks. Still shaken from this new discovery and a haunting trip to a Costa Rican factory, Bethany heads to the small town of Jameson, Virginia to confront the past..and herself.
I love a strong lady boss and had high hopes for Bethany at the beginning of this story. She has an interesting backstory and has fought her way to the top. As the boss of her own advertising agency, she is clearly very busy. However, it is quickly apparent that some of that business is by design in order to avoid facing some of her more personal struggles and insecurities. Unfortunately, the writing lets Bethany down a bit. She comes across as apathetic, naive, and insecure in ways that are sometimes incongruous with her position and actions. A lot of the dialogue is rushed and pretty flat, so we miss out on some additional development that could occur in these moments as well. These issues made it really difficult for me to connect with Bethany and her journey, for better or worse.
The thing that really brought this book down for me was how it handles the topic of child labor and sex trafficking. In both Bethany’s mind and the book as a whole, the issue is a complete afterthought for most of the story. There are occasional reminders about one particular girl’s eyes and general concerns over preserving her friend/client’s reputation and business. However, these only serve to highlight how unimportant the actual human issue at hand is for Bethany. Bethany is very much a woman of privilege and acts that way. She never confronts this privilege and naivety in a way that feels sensitive, transformative, or impactful. I am not a very sensitive person, but I felt uncomfortable in a way that I don’t think was intended. The issue of sex trafficking was already a little at odds with the rest of the story and I think a lot of the issues stem from trying to make it fit in. I appreciate spreading awareness, but we can, and need, to do better.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Owner of a successful advertising agency, Bethany Miller is living her dream. That is, until she finds out she has inherited an estate from her biological mother. Even though she has never met the woman, news of her death reopens somes old wounds and stirs a curiosity about her family history Bethany has never experienced before. Whether or not she decides to keep the estate, a visit may just help uncover some of the answers she seeks. Still shaken from this new discovery and a haunting trip to a Costa Rican factory, Bethany heads to the small town of Jameson, Virginia to confront the past..and herself.
I love a strong lady boss and had high hopes for Bethany at the beginning of this story. She has an interesting backstory and has fought her way to the top. As the boss of her own advertising agency, she is clearly very busy. However, it is quickly apparent that some of that business is by design in order to avoid facing some of her more personal struggles and insecurities. Unfortunately, the writing lets Bethany down a bit. She comes across as apathetic, naive, and insecure in ways that are sometimes incongruous with her position and actions. A lot of the dialogue is rushed and pretty flat, so we miss out on some additional development that could occur in these moments as well. These issues made it really difficult for me to connect with Bethany and her journey, for better or worse.
The thing that really brought this book down for me was how it handles the topic of child labor and sex trafficking. In both Bethany’s mind and the book as a whole, the issue is a complete afterthought for most of the story. There are occasional reminders about one particular girl’s eyes and general concerns over preserving her friend/client’s reputation and business. However, these only serve to highlight how unimportant the actual human issue at hand is for Bethany. Bethany is very much a woman of privilege and acts that way. She never confronts this privilege and naivety in a way that feels sensitive, transformative, or impactful. I am not a very sensitive person, but I felt uncomfortable in a way that I don’t think was intended. The issue of sex trafficking was already a little at odds with the rest of the story and I think a lot of the issues stem from trying to make it fit in. I appreciate spreading awareness, but we can, and need, to do better.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2022
I'd first like to thank Goodreads and Barbara Zerfoss for the chance to preview this debut novel! A gripping premise, beautiful cover, and lovely concept that I believe to be well intentioned. I so badly wanted to enjoy this book more. I feel guilty rating it so low, but for me it contained serious problems that keep me from giving it more stars. It's really only going to appeal to older, straight, white, Christian women.
From the description I expected a bit of historical fiction and suspense woven between a story of an advertising executive learning about her heritage and trying to find balance in life. What I was left with was a book that treats child trafficking as a throw away plot device to focus on what it seems to considers more important matters, like a cliche romance. And stories that seem dependent on white saviors, agreeable black people with little personality, and the heavily preached notion that true strength and purpose come from the Christian God and the Bible.
It reminds me of every rom com where a serious business woman needs to learn the meaning of fun and true fulfillment through a man, Jesus, and having a baby. But I think it meant to be more than that. And I do think the right kind of person would enjoy it, possibly even find betterment in it.
From the description I expected a bit of historical fiction and suspense woven between a story of an advertising executive learning about her heritage and trying to find balance in life. What I was left with was a book that treats child trafficking as a throw away plot device to focus on what it seems to considers more important matters, like a cliche romance. And stories that seem dependent on white saviors, agreeable black people with little personality, and the heavily preached notion that true strength and purpose come from the Christian God and the Bible.
It reminds me of every rom com where a serious business woman needs to learn the meaning of fun and true fulfillment through a man, Jesus, and having a baby. But I think it meant to be more than that. And I do think the right kind of person would enjoy it, possibly even find betterment in it.
May 10, 2022
I want to start by saying that I loved the idea of the book, a mystery getting solved with help from the past.
I started this, expecting one of those time-jump books, where one chapter is from the past and one from the present.
It's not....
After a few chapters of the main character trying to find her family, I forgot that the book was supposed to be about missing girls.
We did get the entries from the journal, but they seemed so out of place when I read them.
In general, it was a good book with interesting characters and nice descriptions.
But, I believe that the story of the journal and the story of the missing girls could be made into two different books.
A thank you to NetGalley for the free ebook copy.
I started this, expecting one of those time-jump books, where one chapter is from the past and one from the present.
It's not....
After a few chapters of the main character trying to find her family, I forgot that the book was supposed to be about missing girls.
We did get the entries from the journal, but they seemed so out of place when I read them.
In general, it was a good book with interesting characters and nice descriptions.
But, I believe that the story of the journal and the story of the missing girls could be made into two different books.
A thank you to NetGalley for the free ebook copy.
October 1, 2022
Exited at 29%. Not masterfully written, but I was willing to overlook that for what might be Christian fiction and hopefully a lack of the "diversity checklist". But..... Sadly it's turning out to be a racially charged story.
July 2, 2022
“The Timekeeper’s chimes serve to remind all that time moves forward, but we should slow down to enjoy the moments.”
Somewhere along the line I got sucked into the ‘glorification of busy’ and it took this pandemic to give me the opportunity to slow down, pay attention to my health, and experience special moments and places I’d otherwise have missed. It’s this present experience that allowed me to appreciate Bethany Miller, the protagonist of Barbara Zerfoss’ book, “As Time Unfolds,” and understand the magnitude of the author’s message tucked between the pages of this extraordinary book. Bethany continually questions “the purpose of all her striving” and the true significance it produced - questions that fuelled my individual quest to press pause.
Zerfoss lovingly combines strong women and historical elements to produce a compelling suspense that kept me guessing, satiated my desire for historical fiction, and made me aware of injustices that are happening all around me. She’s blended, in perfect proportions, a realistic plot, authentic characters, a sweet romance, and then sprinkled it with a beautiful spiritual message.
Influenced by watching baby sea turtles hatch on her local beach, Zerfoss explores the possibility that there’s a purpose to struggle and asks readers to consider that perhaps the struggle is indeed the purpose. In doing so, she shows readers the strengthening benefits of choosing to push through struggles. Zerfoss’s themes centered around the freedom of forgiveness and the power of God, anchor this fantastic novel.
I enjoyed this suspenseful story featuring 5 generations of women and their family heirlooms; it captivated me at the beginning and held my interest throughout. I loved the progression of the Timekeeper’s chimes towards midnight and how the author circled back to give readers a cautionary reminder from Costa Rica. I look forward to more by this author.
I was graciously gifted this book by the author with no expectations of a review.
Somewhere along the line I got sucked into the ‘glorification of busy’ and it took this pandemic to give me the opportunity to slow down, pay attention to my health, and experience special moments and places I’d otherwise have missed. It’s this present experience that allowed me to appreciate Bethany Miller, the protagonist of Barbara Zerfoss’ book, “As Time Unfolds,” and understand the magnitude of the author’s message tucked between the pages of this extraordinary book. Bethany continually questions “the purpose of all her striving” and the true significance it produced - questions that fuelled my individual quest to press pause.
Zerfoss lovingly combines strong women and historical elements to produce a compelling suspense that kept me guessing, satiated my desire for historical fiction, and made me aware of injustices that are happening all around me. She’s blended, in perfect proportions, a realistic plot, authentic characters, a sweet romance, and then sprinkled it with a beautiful spiritual message.
Influenced by watching baby sea turtles hatch on her local beach, Zerfoss explores the possibility that there’s a purpose to struggle and asks readers to consider that perhaps the struggle is indeed the purpose. In doing so, she shows readers the strengthening benefits of choosing to push through struggles. Zerfoss’s themes centered around the freedom of forgiveness and the power of God, anchor this fantastic novel.
I enjoyed this suspenseful story featuring 5 generations of women and their family heirlooms; it captivated me at the beginning and held my interest throughout. I loved the progression of the Timekeeper’s chimes towards midnight and how the author circled back to give readers a cautionary reminder from Costa Rica. I look forward to more by this author.
I was graciously gifted this book by the author with no expectations of a review.
January 10, 2022
Fantastically-crafted debut!
I want to start by saying the cover is absolutely stunning and fits very well with the themes of the book. It is apparent that the author took her time with this project. History, places, and meanings are thoroughly researched and purposefully placed. This book is well written, with strong female characters, expertly weaving past with the present, showing a discovery of/leaning on/growing in faith - in oneself, in others, and a higher power, learning to feel and live more fully, dealing with heartbreak on many levels, accepting joy and love, friendship, family, and taking a step back to figure out one's true priorities. It sensitively and successfully tackles very real and difficult topics - most importantly purpose. It's something we all struggle with and wonder about in life. That being said, there are several twists and turns throughout the novel that keep you turning the page, waiting to see what happens next and how all of the threads get pulled together. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others, and will be on the lookout for more works from this author.
I want to start by saying the cover is absolutely stunning and fits very well with the themes of the book. It is apparent that the author took her time with this project. History, places, and meanings are thoroughly researched and purposefully placed. This book is well written, with strong female characters, expertly weaving past with the present, showing a discovery of/leaning on/growing in faith - in oneself, in others, and a higher power, learning to feel and live more fully, dealing with heartbreak on many levels, accepting joy and love, friendship, family, and taking a step back to figure out one's true priorities. It sensitively and successfully tackles very real and difficult topics - most importantly purpose. It's something we all struggle with and wonder about in life. That being said, there are several twists and turns throughout the novel that keep you turning the page, waiting to see what happens next and how all of the threads get pulled together. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others, and will be on the lookout for more works from this author.
May 3, 2022
Hard-working Bethany inherits a house after her biological mother dies. Life will never be the same and she will discover her previous life was not as great as she thought. This thread was beautifully written, blending history with present day. I am a sucker for character journals in books and these were so well done. Unfortunately, I bring this book down a star as I did not care for the storyline involving child trafficking in Costa Rica.I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 11, 2022
The best part of reading AS TIME UNFOLDS by Barbara Zerfoss was the title and lovely cover art. The story awkwardly shifted again and again, to the point where at the end I seemed to be reading a different book from the one I had started.
The first four chapters were about Bethany Miller, a business owner who focuses every waking second on her successful advertising agency. By the fifth chapter, Bethany is driving to the small town of Jameson, Virginia, where she will work on a limited basis for a month and deal with an inheritance willed to her by a woman she just learned was her biological mother. After Bethany settles into Jameson, the story starts to feel like a Hallmark Channel movie with potential romantic interests and new friends. It even was interesting as Bethany learned about female ancestors who took a strong role in their town and history. It then became clear this is a Christian novel in Chapter 45 with dialogue normally found in Christian women’s fiction. Finally, in Chapter 51 the novel makes a seismic shift to international human sex trafficking.
The first four chapters were about Bethany Miller, a business owner who focuses every waking second on her successful advertising agency. By the fifth chapter, Bethany is driving to the small town of Jameson, Virginia, where she will work on a limited basis for a month and deal with an inheritance willed to her by a woman she just learned was her biological mother. After Bethany settles into Jameson, the story starts to feel like a Hallmark Channel movie with potential romantic interests and new friends. It even was interesting as Bethany learned about female ancestors who took a strong role in their town and history. It then became clear this is a Christian novel in Chapter 45 with dialogue normally found in Christian women’s fiction. Finally, in Chapter 51 the novel makes a seismic shift to international human sex trafficking.
February 10, 2022
Bethany, an ad agency executive, unexpectedly inherits her ancestral home in Jameson, a small town in Virginia. There, she discovers a way of life and community of citizens that stand in sharp contrast to her life in Alexandria. In As Time Unfolds, Barbara Zerfoss draws her readers into a tale in which the characters and their ancestors are cleverly intwined. It's a fun read with a thought-provoking message about time and the busyness of our lives. I highly recommend it.
January 7, 2022
WOW OH WOW!!! Excellent book! I have never read a book so fast! It was so captivating….loved how the author was able to weave 5 generations together, tie in spiritual beliefs, and handle a tough subject matter (don’t want to give a spoiler alert). Really enjoyed reading the book, it was like a piece of a puzzle coming together.
As Time Unfolds is very suspenseful and leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read more. It is very captivating and lots of history with family heirlooms that have lasting memories. A powerful story of love and forgiveness. So glad I read this one!
As Time Unfolds is very suspenseful and leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read more. It is very captivating and lots of history with family heirlooms that have lasting memories. A powerful story of love and forgiveness. So glad I read this one!
January 7, 2022
WOW OH WOW!!! Excellent book! I have never read a book so fast! It was so captivating….loved how the author was able to weave 5 generations together, tie in spiritual beliefs, and handle a tough subject matter (don’t want to give a spoiler alert). Really enjoyed reading the book, it was like a piece of a puzzle coming together.
As Time Unfolds is very suspenseful and leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read more. It is very captivating and lots of history with family heirlooms that have lasting memories. A powerful story of love and forgiveness. So glad I read this one!
As Time Unfolds is very suspenseful and leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read more. It is very captivating and lots of history with family heirlooms that have lasting memories. A powerful story of love and forgiveness. So glad I read this one!
May 1, 2022
Variety and a smooth integration creates an amazing story
I don't usually read romance, and lucky for me, this didn't turn out to be that. I usually like a good police procedural, and amazingly this had some elements of that. I've researched my family's genealogy for over 50 years, but Barbara Zerfoss surprised me in this area also. I've also been blessed enough to have known Barbara for over 15 years, and what she did in this book still was a part of her that I had not expected.
Genealogy is traditionally along the male lines of the family, but Barbara took the road less traveled and told us of mothers' gifts to their daughters, and how they cherished them. Also, how they were strong in the face of adversity and prejudice. Not always the same prejudice, but the current prejudice of their time. Each and every time. I loved the unfolding of the ancestors' stories.
From Ms. Zerfoss's own experience of marketing, she told us about the constant challenges of running an advertising agency and the responsibilities of being responsible for the livelihoods of all of her employees. Being the boss is not simple and distant for the good caring company owner. You don't take a month off and forget about all of them. Every one of them needs attention. As the boss, you are constantly thinking of how you develop, train, encourage and create a path forward for every one of them. Bethany was constantly thinking of how to develop her people, not just grow the business.
The opening sets the stage, and a good reader will always be looking for where that connects to the storyline. "As Time Unfolds" continues to hold that carrot out there but does not quickly show you the connection. The history from the pre-Civil War to the current is a parallel background to the ancestors and shows where the family fits in town, in history, and in the development of Bethany's own life.
I plan on buying this book again to share with friends. It contains a basic story that we all need to read and bring into our own hectic lives. Thank you, Barbara, I really enjoyed your new venture, and I look forward to what you are doing next.
I don't usually read romance, and lucky for me, this didn't turn out to be that. I usually like a good police procedural, and amazingly this had some elements of that. I've researched my family's genealogy for over 50 years, but Barbara Zerfoss surprised me in this area also. I've also been blessed enough to have known Barbara for over 15 years, and what she did in this book still was a part of her that I had not expected.
Genealogy is traditionally along the male lines of the family, but Barbara took the road less traveled and told us of mothers' gifts to their daughters, and how they cherished them. Also, how they were strong in the face of adversity and prejudice. Not always the same prejudice, but the current prejudice of their time. Each and every time. I loved the unfolding of the ancestors' stories.
From Ms. Zerfoss's own experience of marketing, she told us about the constant challenges of running an advertising agency and the responsibilities of being responsible for the livelihoods of all of her employees. Being the boss is not simple and distant for the good caring company owner. You don't take a month off and forget about all of them. Every one of them needs attention. As the boss, you are constantly thinking of how you develop, train, encourage and create a path forward for every one of them. Bethany was constantly thinking of how to develop her people, not just grow the business.
The opening sets the stage, and a good reader will always be looking for where that connects to the storyline. "As Time Unfolds" continues to hold that carrot out there but does not quickly show you the connection. The history from the pre-Civil War to the current is a parallel background to the ancestors and shows where the family fits in town, in history, and in the development of Bethany's own life.
I plan on buying this book again to share with friends. It contains a basic story that we all need to read and bring into our own hectic lives. Thank you, Barbara, I really enjoyed your new venture, and I look forward to what you are doing next.
May 3, 2022
As Time Unfolds is the special story about six generations of women and their daughters that made an impact on the community and future generations.
Bethany Miller, is the CEO of an advertising company. She is so focused on her business that she schedules her time down to the second. While she is filming for one of her clients in Costa Rica she witnesses a young girl in another factory that tries to tell her something but without words. The memory haunts her after she returns.
Bethany learns that she has inherited a sizable property from the birth mother that she never met in Jameson Virginia. She decides to go visit the property with the attorney handling the estate. Bethany was adopted when she was born through a private adoption She questions why her mother never reached out to her and is told that she had hoped Bethany would come to her. She mulls over the information and decides to stay at the house while she decides what to do. As she starts to learn more about her mother a journal is found in the Timekeeper. As she learns about the women in her birth family she will begin to reassess what her future might become.
Bethany accidentally discovers the mystery of what she can't forget when she visited Costa Rica. This will set the course of action for her in a unexpected way.
This is a wonderful story of the genealogy of a family's journey and the impact they had on the people they helped a long the way. This story reminds us of the rich history lesson of the unsung heroes in the journal format passing from one generation to the next.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
Bethany Miller, is the CEO of an advertising company. She is so focused on her business that she schedules her time down to the second. While she is filming for one of her clients in Costa Rica she witnesses a young girl in another factory that tries to tell her something but without words. The memory haunts her after she returns.
Bethany learns that she has inherited a sizable property from the birth mother that she never met in Jameson Virginia. She decides to go visit the property with the attorney handling the estate. Bethany was adopted when she was born through a private adoption She questions why her mother never reached out to her and is told that she had hoped Bethany would come to her. She mulls over the information and decides to stay at the house while she decides what to do. As she starts to learn more about her mother a journal is found in the Timekeeper. As she learns about the women in her birth family she will begin to reassess what her future might become.
Bethany accidentally discovers the mystery of what she can't forget when she visited Costa Rica. This will set the course of action for her in a unexpected way.
This is a wonderful story of the genealogy of a family's journey and the impact they had on the people they helped a long the way. This story reminds us of the rich history lesson of the unsung heroes in the journal format passing from one generation to the next.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
May 3, 2022
As Time Unfolds is a book by a new author for me. The story starts with Bethany Miller the owner of a up and coming ad/media agency learning that she has inherited a historic house from the birth mother she never knew. Bethany has concentrated on her carreer over the past few years and so has not really developed a life outside of work. She has built her company representing the companies of her best friend Baxter and is trying to diversify so as not to have all of her eggs in one basket. The inheritence seems like an annoyance and a chore to her. Her friends and co-workers persuade her to take some time off and investigate the house and her family history. Bethany goes to the small town of Jameson to see her inheritence and ready it for sale. While renovating the property she meets some lovely people who want to help her on her journey of self discovery. She also discovers a journal in the antique clock in the house. The journal has passages written in it by all of her female ancestors back to the Civil War. As Bethany discovers her family history, she also discovers some disturbing things about her friends and family in the present as well as maybe finding love in an unexpected place.
I enjoyed this book, it had a great plot and was interesting to view the history of Bethany’s family.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Morgan James Fiction and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
I enjoyed this book, it had a great plot and was interesting to view the history of Bethany’s family.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Morgan James Fiction and the author for the chance to read and review this book.
March 1, 2022
This was such a good read, it was well written with a gripping storyline and engaging, well developed characters. It was twisty and unpredictable and I couldn't put it down until I knew the outcome of the book. I loved it.
April 24, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley, publishers and Barbara Zerfoss for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
"𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠. 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥."
Wow!! What a story. I don't know where to begin. There are soo many amazing details to this story. The story begins as Bethany, an owner of a multi-million-dollar company, get's a call about the house and land she inherited from her biological mother (the one she never met or felt the need to look for) and a man wanting to buy it.
She goes to the house to see what that is all about and there she discovers her past. Past of the powerful and strong women in her family who made a difference during difficul times. As the story unravels she finds out more than she ever wanted, and more she ever thought she needed.
I don't wanna reveal too much, but lets say that her finding out she inherited the house from her biological mother was the best, and the hardest, thing EVER happend to her. This story has everything from strong women, amazing old friends, new friends as well as dissapointment in old friends and human trafficing. 𝘼𝙨 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 story is an emotional one and amazing one at that. Everyone should read it. By the end of the book I experienced shock, happiness, anger, love and many other emotions.
I recommend this book with my whole heart and being. It is an amazing story that we all, especialy us women, can learn a lot from. Please read this book as soon as possible. You won't be dissapointed, I PROMISE!!!
**All of my reviews will be posted on Instagram (@booksta_mommy) and my Goodreads page (@adna_fazlibasic) **
"𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠. 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥."
Wow!! What a story. I don't know where to begin. There are soo many amazing details to this story. The story begins as Bethany, an owner of a multi-million-dollar company, get's a call about the house and land she inherited from her biological mother (the one she never met or felt the need to look for) and a man wanting to buy it.
She goes to the house to see what that is all about and there she discovers her past. Past of the powerful and strong women in her family who made a difference during difficul times. As the story unravels she finds out more than she ever wanted, and more she ever thought she needed.
I don't wanna reveal too much, but lets say that her finding out she inherited the house from her biological mother was the best, and the hardest, thing EVER happend to her. This story has everything from strong women, amazing old friends, new friends as well as dissapointment in old friends and human trafficing. 𝘼𝙨 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 story is an emotional one and amazing one at that. Everyone should read it. By the end of the book I experienced shock, happiness, anger, love and many other emotions.
I recommend this book with my whole heart and being. It is an amazing story that we all, especialy us women, can learn a lot from. Please read this book as soon as possible. You won't be dissapointed, I PROMISE!!!
**All of my reviews will be posted on Instagram (@booksta_mommy) and my Goodreads page (@adna_fazlibasic) **
May 7, 2022
I won this book in a giveaway & it had me hooked from the very first page! The characters were great, the build up was even better, & the ending had me in tears. It really was a heartwarming book that would give inspiration to any woman. It will make you question time as you see it & realize that slowing down for the present moment can sometimes be the most important thing.
January 19, 2022
Worth the Time
I loved the way aspects of time are used to weave together past and present to create an interesting multilayered story.
I loved the way aspects of time are used to weave together past and present to create an interesting multilayered story.
January 15, 2022
As Time Unfolds by Barbara Zerfoss
Such a nice relaxing read that touches on important current topics and explores how we find value in our lives! Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Such a nice relaxing read that touches on important current topics and explores how we find value in our lives! Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
May 21, 2022
Loved loved loved this wonderfully woven story wrapped in a mystery that becomes a driving force of love, commitment, acceptance of Christ as savior. Bethany continues stating the Timekeeper saved me but God has big plans for each of us ….and Bethany’s story continues as she releases her career focus for a focus on the hearts of those she has grown to love.
Each chapter is short but ends as a mini cliffhanger so the reader has to read the next chapter immediately to get to the next revelation in the mystery. Bethany is insightful enough to know that something is amiss in the deteriorating factory in Costa Rica, she has a bad feeling about the children working in the factory.
Bethany reads her ancestral writings and is disappointed that she has allowed herself to be so distracted with her business instead of working for the betterment of herself and others, social justice.
I loved the intricate weave of history and characters into modern day and onward into future. Romans 8:28 = all things work together for HIS good for those who are called according to HIS purpose.
What a wonderful captivating read, mystery, love story, champion for the abused and abandoned.
TREMENDOUS!!!
Each chapter is short but ends as a mini cliffhanger so the reader has to read the next chapter immediately to get to the next revelation in the mystery. Bethany is insightful enough to know that something is amiss in the deteriorating factory in Costa Rica, she has a bad feeling about the children working in the factory.
Bethany reads her ancestral writings and is disappointed that she has allowed herself to be so distracted with her business instead of working for the betterment of herself and others, social justice.
I loved the intricate weave of history and characters into modern day and onward into future. Romans 8:28 = all things work together for HIS good for those who are called according to HIS purpose.
What a wonderful captivating read, mystery, love story, champion for the abused and abandoned.
TREMENDOUS!!!
January 14, 2022
This book was so good! It resonated with me on so many levels. I highly recommend!
April 14, 2022
The past and the present collide in this novel. Beautifully written it tells the story of Bethany who inherits the family home. This home has been passed down from generation to generation. She discovers the family journal in the Timekeeper, an old Grandfather clock, and reads the story of her ancestors. All strong women who encountered problems but dealt with them head on, these memoirs help Bethany deal with her own dilemmas.
I enjoyed reading the historical parts in the journals and felt the subject matter tied in lovely with modern day times.
I enjoyed reading the historical parts in the journals and felt the subject matter tied in lovely with modern day times.
April 15, 2022
Bethany, an ad executive inherits a home and land in small town Jameson. While living at the home, Bethany uncovers secrets of her ancestry, learns more about herself and finds answers to questions. A beautiful novel about family, love, bravery and strength. Trigger warnings for abuse.
I highly recommend As Time Unfolds to everyone!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I highly recommend As Time Unfolds to everyone!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 27, 2022
Great read! loved it!
Beautifully written and compelling! I loved how Barbara interlaced history, the plague of human trafficking, friendship, a love story, and so great Salvation, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Beautifully written and compelling! I loved how Barbara interlaced history, the plague of human trafficking, friendship, a love story, and so great Salvation, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
May 4, 2022
As Time Unfolds by Barbara Zerfoss is the story of one woman’s search for her family’s history and lessons learned that can help save a life. Bethany Miller’s life is on the fast track as she is the CEO and owner of an advertising agency when it comes to a halt with a surprising phone call. She has inherited an ancestral home from the biological mother she never knew. Unsure what to do, she visits the home in Jameson, Virginia. Inside the grandfather clock known as The Timekeeper, Bethany discovers a treasured family journal. In it, generations of first daughters wrote one entry, sharing family secrets, chronicling a courageous life in challenging times and words of wisdom for the next generation of daughters. Reading these women’s stories, Bethany takes the chance to reassess her life moving forward. When an alarming encounter with one young girl’s soul piercing eyes keeps haunting her thoughts, Bethany senses a pull to help. But how? Can the stories of her maternal ancestors give her the strength and courage to fight for someone else? Even if it comes at a personal cost?
As Time Unfolds is a story that dragged in the beginning and picked up at the halfway point. The connections between Bethany, her family’s legacy and the young missing girl isn’t made until the end. However, there was enough pull and intrigue to keep the reader looking for the connection. I enjoyed the story of Bethany discovering her family heritage more than the connection with the missing girl. I also enjoyed the grandfather clock. The Timekeeper was the silent character that stood watch as a guard and a guide. Although the issue of human trafficking is an important and current crisis, I felt it didn’t quite fit. The two stories didn’t quite mesh. There was also a lot of repeating information. At one point, Bethany finds newspaper articles that just rehash information that is revealed in the journal entries. It would have been possible to introduce the articles without doing another information dump to rehash information the reader already knows. Overall, I enjoyed As Time Unfolds for its story of courageous women from the past that informs and molds the courageous acts of today. I recommend As Time Unfolds.
As Time Unfolds is available in paperback and eBook
As Time Unfolds is a story that dragged in the beginning and picked up at the halfway point. The connections between Bethany, her family’s legacy and the young missing girl isn’t made until the end. However, there was enough pull and intrigue to keep the reader looking for the connection. I enjoyed the story of Bethany discovering her family heritage more than the connection with the missing girl. I also enjoyed the grandfather clock. The Timekeeper was the silent character that stood watch as a guard and a guide. Although the issue of human trafficking is an important and current crisis, I felt it didn’t quite fit. The two stories didn’t quite mesh. There was also a lot of repeating information. At one point, Bethany finds newspaper articles that just rehash information that is revealed in the journal entries. It would have been possible to introduce the articles without doing another information dump to rehash information the reader already knows. Overall, I enjoyed As Time Unfolds for its story of courageous women from the past that informs and molds the courageous acts of today. I recommend As Time Unfolds.
As Time Unfolds is available in paperback and eBook
June 21, 2022
As Time Unfolds was a charming book that touched on family, legacies, friendship, and international sex trafficking. The book started with a few lines from a family journal that was handed down through 6 generations to the first daughter. each girl/woman wrote one entry sharing family secrets, and chronicling acts which made a difference in her life, as well as imparting wisdom. It was kept in the Timekeeper- a grandfather clock which was kept in the family home.
The story centers around Bethany, a 38 year old successful woman who was the CEO of a successful multimillion dollar advertising company. She has never been married and finds that she devotes much of her time and energy to keeping this business successful.
She is the sole heir of a family estate from her birth mother, and she takes time away from her very successful business to see the property and to find her legacy.
The estate is about 2 1/2 hrs from her home base and she spends a month there renovating and updating the property. She meets many people in the town who knew her mother and had good things to say about her. There were several surprises in the story- and as Bethany, gained knowledge of her heritage, she also set on a path which would change her life. and her perspective on her own happiness and purpose in life.
The book had a fair amount of storytelling but not a lot of emotion, which made it difficult for me to warm up to Bethany. However, along the way, she managed to develop some friendships and to find romance.
The last 25% of the book was exciting and showed how much Bethany had changed as she dealt with the shock of sex trafficking and the loss of friendship.
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story centers around Bethany, a 38 year old successful woman who was the CEO of a successful multimillion dollar advertising company. She has never been married and finds that she devotes much of her time and energy to keeping this business successful.
She is the sole heir of a family estate from her birth mother, and she takes time away from her very successful business to see the property and to find her legacy.
The estate is about 2 1/2 hrs from her home base and she spends a month there renovating and updating the property. She meets many people in the town who knew her mother and had good things to say about her. There were several surprises in the story- and as Bethany, gained knowledge of her heritage, she also set on a path which would change her life. and her perspective on her own happiness and purpose in life.
The book had a fair amount of storytelling but not a lot of emotion, which made it difficult for me to warm up to Bethany. However, along the way, she managed to develop some friendships and to find romance.
The last 25% of the book was exciting and showed how much Bethany had changed as she dealt with the shock of sex trafficking and the loss of friendship.
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 14, 2022
Bethany Miller, a career minded ad executive who schedules her time down to the second, is forced to reevaluate her goals when she discovers a past that she never knew in this thriller that stretches back to the pre-Civil War United States to modern day Costa Rica. Bethany is on the brink of a career breakthrough when she receives news that her birth mother, whom she never met, has passed away and bequeathed her a historic home in small town Virginia. Though hesitant to let this potentially derail her burgeoning prospects, her colleagues convince her to visit her family home, leading her to discover the generational secrets from an old journal stored in the Timekeeper, the imposing grandfather clock that is a character in and of itself. This is a solidly told story about both losing and gaining family, and how our ancestor’s approach to older evils can help us combat the modern ones that haunt us today. I do wish that some of the stories of Bethany’s ancestors were told through episodes as opposed to the notes each woman pens to her daughter (as is the case for a Civil War sequence about halfway through, told in the guise of a newspaper article), but that doesn’t lessen the impact of when Bethany feels the weight of the legacy of the women in the family she never knew she had.
March 29, 2022
As Time Unfolds was a likeable read that focuses on the growth and power of the feminine spirit. This debut had the potential to be a 5-star novel. Unfortunately for me, it just didn't get there. I enjoyed the stories of the multiple generations of women portrayed in the journal and of Bethany herself, but I felt cheated. I was under the impression that this book would be more mysterious due to all of the "so-called" secrets and the disappearance of the young girl. Instead, 80% of the book focused on the change of Bethany's life and the discovery of her past. There really wasn't any tie-in to the secrets and the girl. Don't get me wrong, overall, it was a good read. Just not my cup of tea.
Thank you to the author, Morgan James Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC.
Thank you to the author, Morgan James Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC.
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