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Finding Jane
A business trip from the crowded streets of Los Angeles to the countryside of England was supposed to be a reprieve for Jane Reynolds. She needed a break from congested commutes, endless work days, and mostly, to stop crying from a broken heart. But her first night out in the bustling streets of London, and an encounter with a young man only reinforce that life and love are just illusions, no matter how far she travels.
Taking refuge in a bookstore, Jane meets a psychic who tells her she is unique, born under the black moon, giving her a magnetic energy that will send her on a faraway journey.
It is only the next day, when she unwittingly steps into a strange vibrational pull and is found naked in a 19th century field that the psychic’s words find meaning.
Caught in the past, Jane becomes an interloper in the lives of the people she meets. Especially to Henry Eaton, the handsome landowner who takes her in, and finds himself drawn to the woman who has brought a renewed sense of vivacity to his family, his home, and even his own harrowed heart.
But nothing good can come from disrupting a time and place you don't belong–unless you are Jane.
As the characters weave their lives together through friendships, flirtation, and intrigue, Jane and Henry test the course of destiny in their search for love.
Ultimately, Jane must fall into the past to find love in the future.
Taking refuge in a bookstore, Jane meets a psychic who tells her she is unique, born under the black moon, giving her a magnetic energy that will send her on a faraway journey.
It is only the next day, when she unwittingly steps into a strange vibrational pull and is found naked in a 19th century field that the psychic’s words find meaning.
Caught in the past, Jane becomes an interloper in the lives of the people she meets. Especially to Henry Eaton, the handsome landowner who takes her in, and finds himself drawn to the woman who has brought a renewed sense of vivacity to his family, his home, and even his own harrowed heart.
But nothing good can come from disrupting a time and place you don't belong–unless you are Jane.
As the characters weave their lives together through friendships, flirtation, and intrigue, Jane and Henry test the course of destiny in their search for love.
Ultimately, Jane must fall into the past to find love in the future.
464 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2022
14 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Conte
8 books17 followersElizabeth Conte is a writer of novels, poetry, and short stories. She is a native Californian where she lives with her husband and her almost out-of-the-house college kids. When she isn’t writing, you will find her in her garden, walking her dog, Winston--the only one who will sit and listen to her reading out loud, or mixing up a cocktail. She prefers whiskey above all else. Her love for writing is only equal to her love of gardening.
Check out her Instagram to be inspired @ElizabethConteWriterdeeva. Or join her mailing list at ElizabethConte.com
Check out her Instagram to be inspired @ElizabethConteWriterdeeva. Or join her mailing list at ElizabethConte.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 16, 2022
Over-written pretentious drivel. At $10 for a Kindle edition, it's over-priced, too. I checked out the sample, was rolling my eyes by the second page. Has the author never read a romance novel before? There's nothing clever or romantic or unique or innovative about a woman waking up in bed alone and mooning over the man who left her four weeks earlier. Dull. Boring. Slow. Where's the drama? Where's? The? Drama?
Never mind. Over-hyped as well.
Never mind. Over-hyped as well.
March 15, 2022
This is a fantastic book. We meet Jane as her long term relationship with Stephen has just ended. As part of her job she visits an estate in England, home of the Eaton family for hundreds of years. After a cryptic message from a mysterious woman in a book shop, Jane soons finds herself magically transported back to the Eaton Estate in 1833. Jane is taken in by the family but only a few know her secret. Jane needs to find how to get home but life in 1833 is fulfilling and her attraction to Henry Eaton is growing... but any interference in his relationships could be devastating for the timeline of events in the future.
I really enjoyed this book. Jane is a lovely character- she's bold and self assured and struggles with the way women are treated in the 1800's but makes every effort to fit in and forges lovely relationships with the many other lovely characters in this story. Its quite a long book, but this author manages to create really vivid imagery without spending pages and pages detailing descriptions. Consequently there is a lot of story- I felt really sad to leave these characters behind when I finished the book... they are lovely!
This is a really good story, very well told with a few little twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing!
I really enjoyed this book. Jane is a lovely character- she's bold and self assured and struggles with the way women are treated in the 1800's but makes every effort to fit in and forges lovely relationships with the many other lovely characters in this story. Its quite a long book, but this author manages to create really vivid imagery without spending pages and pages detailing descriptions. Consequently there is a lot of story- I felt really sad to leave these characters behind when I finished the book... they are lovely!
This is a really good story, very well told with a few little twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing!
May 25, 2022
I read this book when it first came out and loved every second of it. The writing is reminiscent of the classics of the ages in which it takes place, which makes it very compelling. She was masterful in the transitions from one era to the other and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the old classics.
March 20, 2022
This imaginative story of time travel, romance, and self-discovery cast a spell over me and kept me reading late into the night. Conte’s novel is so beautifully crafted and filled with such vivid descriptions that I felt transported to the nineteenth century English countryside. Jane and Henry, star-crossed lovers from different centuries, are endearing, relatable characters that I won't soon forget. Their love story is a slow burn, unfolding with so much magic and charm that I often felt like I was reading a Jane Austen novel. This is a brilliant debut!
March 16, 2022
This book was breathtakingly beautiful. Jane and her boyfriend breakup and she travels to England for her job at a beautiful estate to get away. She winds up taking a walk one day and wakes up naked in a field back in the 1900s near the same estate. What happens then is a world wind story that will have you mesmerized and your heart captured. With each page read, you are drawn in and can’t let go until the end.
May 24, 2022
My god, this women can write! I read this book in one day! From the moment I started reading it I could not put it down!
May 24, 2022
Such a wonderful writer. I can't wait to read her other books. Like a breath of fresh air.
March 25, 2022
This is a book I looked forward to reading, because I’m a big fan of the author, Elizabeth Conte, as a poet. Finding Jane is her first venture into novel writing and I hope it won’t be her last. There are two qualities that distinguish this novel from other contemporary works: its beautiful, emotive, figurative language and its compelling story line. Conte’s use of her wonderful poetic voice is evident throughout the book, especially in her close attention to the visual details of the setting, the faces and physical qualities of the characters, the food and clothing, all of which are described in vividly imagistic words, which bring the reader right into each scene as if he or she were actually there. The reader, along with Jane, the protagonist, is transported completely into the early 19th century where the bulk of the novel takes place. The beautiful descriptions give the Eaton estate, much of the books’s setting, and its rooms, its atmosphere, and its grounds a magical quality that thoroughly convince the reader, along with Jane, that she belongs in that era.
The story told in the novel is a captivating one. When Jane, a young woman recently abandoned by her unfaithful lover, is suddenly transported nearly 200 years into the past, will she encounter an opportunity for love that has the power to heal her broken heart? As she acclimates to the customs and manners of upper-class English gentry, will she find a new home or desperately want to return to her former life? The story is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, with as much suspense as a modern mystery or thriller. The characters are well-drawn, each an individual in him or herself and the complications Jane encounters keep the reader guessing right up until the end of the novel.
This is a literary novel. It would qualify as one simply on the basis of the figurative language, which brings each scene alive in the way a poet can paint a picture with words. It is also a romance, in the tradition of great romances, such as Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre. The characters fall deeply in love, their thoughts and actions, their hopes and fears, are shaped by their love and the reader falls right along with them, hoping, in this case against logic and against probability, that their love will be strong enough to bring them together in the end. Nothing is easy. The characters are real, complex people with their own tragedies and foibles to contend with. Jane, the young woman is headstrong, independent, and determined, often at odds with the role of young women in the era in which she finds herself, yet she is sensitive, generous and caring, capable of great love and faithfulness, as well as unselfish moral behavior. One finds oneself both rooting for Jane’s success and simultaneously learning to value, as she is learning it, the traditions and mores of a more rigid, but also more genteel society.
As a genuine romantic novel, Finding Jane certainly qualifies as “women’s fiction.” I am a man who ordinarily reads mysteries and science fiction, although I also love becoming swept up by the, usually, larger, more sweeping stories of literary novels of earlier times. This novel swept me off my feet. I read the last half of the book non-stop, eager to find out what destiny had in store for Jane and whether or not she would accept or defy that fate. I discovered that it is really a novel for anyone who loves an absorbing story and who hasn’t lost their yearning for an old-fashioned tale of love. I can heartily recommend it.
The story told in the novel is a captivating one. When Jane, a young woman recently abandoned by her unfaithful lover, is suddenly transported nearly 200 years into the past, will she encounter an opportunity for love that has the power to heal her broken heart? As she acclimates to the customs and manners of upper-class English gentry, will she find a new home or desperately want to return to her former life? The story is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, with as much suspense as a modern mystery or thriller. The characters are well-drawn, each an individual in him or herself and the complications Jane encounters keep the reader guessing right up until the end of the novel.
This is a literary novel. It would qualify as one simply on the basis of the figurative language, which brings each scene alive in the way a poet can paint a picture with words. It is also a romance, in the tradition of great romances, such as Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre. The characters fall deeply in love, their thoughts and actions, their hopes and fears, are shaped by their love and the reader falls right along with them, hoping, in this case against logic and against probability, that their love will be strong enough to bring them together in the end. Nothing is easy. The characters are real, complex people with their own tragedies and foibles to contend with. Jane, the young woman is headstrong, independent, and determined, often at odds with the role of young women in the era in which she finds herself, yet she is sensitive, generous and caring, capable of great love and faithfulness, as well as unselfish moral behavior. One finds oneself both rooting for Jane’s success and simultaneously learning to value, as she is learning it, the traditions and mores of a more rigid, but also more genteel society.
As a genuine romantic novel, Finding Jane certainly qualifies as “women’s fiction.” I am a man who ordinarily reads mysteries and science fiction, although I also love becoming swept up by the, usually, larger, more sweeping stories of literary novels of earlier times. This novel swept me off my feet. I read the last half of the book non-stop, eager to find out what destiny had in store for Jane and whether or not she would accept or defy that fate. I discovered that it is really a novel for anyone who loves an absorbing story and who hasn’t lost their yearning for an old-fashioned tale of love. I can heartily recommend it.
May 24, 2022
What a beautiful romantic story. Truly romantic, about real love. About falling in love. That feeling that is far more than physical and visual attraction. The feeling that is built upon mindful and intelligent conversation between intelligent and cultivated adults. Yes, cultivated. The kind of love that is so difficult to find in our times, that the character travels back to the 18th century to find true connection, true love.
The novel is built on a well-developed plot, with well-rounded characters. None of the characters are sketches, all of them have a strong personality, their story adds to the main story, aids to its development. All characters contribute to the plot and paint a true picture of 18th century England.
I find it well-researched, the author must have done tons of research because the description of the places, of the fashion, the customs of the time, the manners in all circumstances are vivid and true to historical mentions. The present-past discrepancies are emphasized through the main character's filter, her awkwardness upon landing from present into the 18th century without cell phone, Google and any other gadgets. Just herself. I loved the story from beginning to end, especially with the surprising ending!
This is true literature, true diving into soul, talent in writing and worldbuilding, worthy of a place in a college literature course.
Read the book, you won't regret the time you give to it!
The novel is built on a well-developed plot, with well-rounded characters. None of the characters are sketches, all of them have a strong personality, their story adds to the main story, aids to its development. All characters contribute to the plot and paint a true picture of 18th century England.
I find it well-researched, the author must have done tons of research because the description of the places, of the fashion, the customs of the time, the manners in all circumstances are vivid and true to historical mentions. The present-past discrepancies are emphasized through the main character's filter, her awkwardness upon landing from present into the 18th century without cell phone, Google and any other gadgets. Just herself. I loved the story from beginning to end, especially with the surprising ending!
This is true literature, true diving into soul, talent in writing and worldbuilding, worthy of a place in a college literature course.
Read the book, you won't regret the time you give to it!
June 7, 2022
Best time travel book!
Very enjoyable read. She traveled through time, but also through the emotional journey of finding herself and understanding the love of friends, love of self, love of loss, and her love for the man who captured her heart. Well done.
Very enjoyable read. She traveled through time, but also through the emotional journey of finding herself and understanding the love of friends, love of self, love of loss, and her love for the man who captured her heart. Well done.
May 15, 2022
couldn't finish the sample. the writing is obnoxiously technical and devoid of any personality. it's just boring and flavorless.
May 26, 2022
What an amazing and romantic book. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!!
May 25, 2022
Lovable characters, surprising twists, beautifully written, an enjoyable read!
May 23, 2022
I bought this book for my wife after reading an article in the LA Times Orange County Edition on May 15, 2022 Section A8/ Daily Pilot.
I did not see her for two days. She absolutely loved this book. I am shocked that I have seen some negative reviews. My wife even asked me if those people have actually read the book.
I highly recommend you buy this book.
I did not see her for two days. She absolutely loved this book. I am shocked that I have seen some negative reviews. My wife even asked me if those people have actually read the book.
I highly recommend you buy this book.
August 8, 2022
I love this book!
I cannot get over the story line, the book is amazing and Elizabeth wrote it so beautifully.
I cannot get over the story line, the book is amazing and Elizabeth wrote it so beautifully.
November 9, 2022
After her heart is broken by the man she expected to spend her life with, Jane is reeling with anger and self-loathing. Still, she dries her tears, forcing herself to make the best of an upcoming work trip. Across the pond from California to England, Jane embraces the downtown, rich with history and the sprawling English countryside. Perhaps it’s the escape she needs. But when she encounters a bookstore with a peculiar woman who delivers a cryptic message to Jane about her fate, she cannot shake the eerie feeling. The woman was adamant about Jane traversing the terrain of past and future to find love, but what did that mean?
Then, she is found completely nude and taken to the Eaton Estate, where she realizes she has been transported back to the nineteenth century. Dr. Cummings, a kind-hearted doctor and a close friend of Henry Eaton, cares for her. He doesn’t even bat an eyelash when she voices her plight regarding the time travel and promises to help her get back home. Still, he warns her to tread carefully and keep tight-lipped as people will surely gossip.
Jane and Henry cannot deny the electricity between them. Still, scandal and honor seem to keep the couple apart, and, of course, the fact that Jane belongs in the future might confuse Henry. Will she willingly embrace her feelings for Henry and be stuck in the past forever, or will she return home lonely and brokenhearted?
“Finding Jane” is a fascinating historical fiction book with a little sprinkle of fantasy, and it reeled me in from the beginning. It’s not often that I come across a book that intersperses romance and magic. But isn’t love profoundly magical? The answer is a resounding yes; thus, I thought the mystical element of time travel added another layer of intrigue to the love story.
One of the many endearing qualities of the book was the sheer brilliance of taking a modern woman from the twenty-first century and transporting her back to the nineteenth century. Not only were her observations humorous and captivating, but they provided much insight into how the world has changed. I particularly enjoyed when her modern-day feminism shone through, often shocking the stuffy older men. Her feisty and adventurous spirit was truly my favorite part of the story.
I couldn’t praise this enchanting book enough or bring it the justice it deserves without gushing over the love story between Henry and Jane. It was passionate, heartbreaking, and time-bending all at once, and I couldn’t help but be swept up in the couple’s mass of emotions. But it didn’t start immediately; the author did an impeccable job highlighting Henry and Jane’s collective distaste for one another initially. Then, through clever character building, the tension between them slowly shifted and transformed into mutual respect, admiration, and finally, all-encompassing desire. As a reader, their romance completely transfixed me. It made it difficult to put the book down and go back to regular life (a sign that the author is truly gifted)!
“Finding Jane” has something for everyone—history, including vivid descriptions of nineteenth-century England, time travel, and a love story that will pull your heartstrings. Between the unique premise and expertly crafted characters, the book is worthy of five stars!
Then, she is found completely nude and taken to the Eaton Estate, where she realizes she has been transported back to the nineteenth century. Dr. Cummings, a kind-hearted doctor and a close friend of Henry Eaton, cares for her. He doesn’t even bat an eyelash when she voices her plight regarding the time travel and promises to help her get back home. Still, he warns her to tread carefully and keep tight-lipped as people will surely gossip.
Jane and Henry cannot deny the electricity between them. Still, scandal and honor seem to keep the couple apart, and, of course, the fact that Jane belongs in the future might confuse Henry. Will she willingly embrace her feelings for Henry and be stuck in the past forever, or will she return home lonely and brokenhearted?
“Finding Jane” is a fascinating historical fiction book with a little sprinkle of fantasy, and it reeled me in from the beginning. It’s not often that I come across a book that intersperses romance and magic. But isn’t love profoundly magical? The answer is a resounding yes; thus, I thought the mystical element of time travel added another layer of intrigue to the love story.
One of the many endearing qualities of the book was the sheer brilliance of taking a modern woman from the twenty-first century and transporting her back to the nineteenth century. Not only were her observations humorous and captivating, but they provided much insight into how the world has changed. I particularly enjoyed when her modern-day feminism shone through, often shocking the stuffy older men. Her feisty and adventurous spirit was truly my favorite part of the story.
I couldn’t praise this enchanting book enough or bring it the justice it deserves without gushing over the love story between Henry and Jane. It was passionate, heartbreaking, and time-bending all at once, and I couldn’t help but be swept up in the couple’s mass of emotions. But it didn’t start immediately; the author did an impeccable job highlighting Henry and Jane’s collective distaste for one another initially. Then, through clever character building, the tension between them slowly shifted and transformed into mutual respect, admiration, and finally, all-encompassing desire. As a reader, their romance completely transfixed me. It made it difficult to put the book down and go back to regular life (a sign that the author is truly gifted)!
“Finding Jane” has something for everyone—history, including vivid descriptions of nineteenth-century England, time travel, and a love story that will pull your heartstrings. Between the unique premise and expertly crafted characters, the book is worthy of five stars!
August 10, 2022
Disclaimer: I know the author and she has been kind enough to assist me with the query/synopsis for my own manuscript. I've read all of the reviews here and I'm in concurrence with the 4/5 stars. I'm not convinced that the 1/2 stars have actually read the book. Reading this reminds me of discovering some of my most treasured reads - Lost Horizon, The Canterville Ghost, The Time Traveller's Wife. I started out reading it at one chapter a day, but reached a point where I put my other reading aside because I wanted to find out 'what happens next.'
My graduate school minor was 19th century English literature. I've read a fair amount of Gaskell, Elliot and the Bronte's, as well as some of their letters and some excellent biographies. To attempt to capture the voice of a modern women and the voice of characters from the 1830's - just not an easy task. Not to mention the period detail. Is it perfect? I'm with Saint-Exupery on this one, "The dream of a ninety five, is a weight upon the heart." I'm quite content with 94%.
There are 'good reads' that are neither formula nor genre. There are 'good reads' where the scene setting and character development require some patience of the reader at the beginning - War and Peace and The Fellowship of the Ring were 'tell me again why I'm reading this' books for me. Glad I stayed with them.
Some of the scenes here are as 'true' as anything I've ever experienced. Bring the tissue box. And any time an intelligent woman is going to write about 'real' romance, you have my attention. I would highly recommend for readers of Towles and Rooney. Hard to say more without spoilers.
My graduate school minor was 19th century English literature. I've read a fair amount of Gaskell, Elliot and the Bronte's, as well as some of their letters and some excellent biographies. To attempt to capture the voice of a modern women and the voice of characters from the 1830's - just not an easy task. Not to mention the period detail. Is it perfect? I'm with Saint-Exupery on this one, "The dream of a ninety five, is a weight upon the heart." I'm quite content with 94%.
There are 'good reads' that are neither formula nor genre. There are 'good reads' where the scene setting and character development require some patience of the reader at the beginning - War and Peace and The Fellowship of the Ring were 'tell me again why I'm reading this' books for me. Glad I stayed with them.
Some of the scenes here are as 'true' as anything I've ever experienced. Bring the tissue box. And any time an intelligent woman is going to write about 'real' romance, you have my attention. I would highly recommend for readers of Towles and Rooney. Hard to say more without spoilers.
July 19, 2023
I'm not normally a reader of time travel romance, but this book was recommended to me and I'm really glad I read it. I didn't want to put it down! As an author myself, I try to only read books that make me want to become a better writer, and Elizabeth Conte did just that. I found myself continually inspired. Her characters are believable, her writing is clear and crisp, and I'm looking forward to reading her next book.
July 21, 2023
Devoured this in one day!
If you can ignore the American spellings and Americanisms (such as “drapes” and “sidewalk” not to mention the faux pas of mentioning wild skunks which we do NOT have in England) then you can get into a good story.
You get so involved with the book and the characters that you leave feeling truly, madly, deeply for Henry Eaton and want to slap Jane Reynolds for leaving him!
It has a happy ending but no thanks to Jane leaving to go back to her own time, leaving Henry heartbroken! ☹️
If you can ignore the American spellings and Americanisms (such as “drapes” and “sidewalk” not to mention the faux pas of mentioning wild skunks which we do NOT have in England) then you can get into a good story.
You get so involved with the book and the characters that you leave feeling truly, madly, deeply for Henry Eaton and want to slap Jane Reynolds for leaving him!
It has a happy ending but no thanks to Jane leaving to go back to her own time, leaving Henry heartbroken! ☹️
July 20, 2023
I loved "Finding Jane". The book is a touching story about a woman who is searching for answers about her past mixed with authentic romance. The author does an excellent job of weaving together different timelines and perspectives to create a compelling narrative. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
The author of "Finding Jane" is truly talented. Elizabeth Conte’s writing style is engaging and draws the reader in from the very beginning. She has a real gift for storytelling and creating complex, relatable characters. I can't wait to read more of her work in the future!
The author of "Finding Jane" is truly talented. Elizabeth Conte’s writing style is engaging and draws the reader in from the very beginning. She has a real gift for storytelling and creating complex, relatable characters. I can't wait to read more of her work in the future!
July 20, 2023
This book was recommended to me with rave reviews. Bravo Elizabeth Conte! A great read. The author has a way with imagery that made me fall into the book; like I was dropped into 19th century England! It is filled with people I wanted to know, vividly described scenery, and the romance between Jane and Henry...!
(no spoilers!)
(no spoilers!)
September 27, 2023
The start was slow, the writing full of too much unimportant information, the ending hasty, and the story, overall, in need of a developmental edit. Still, I enjoyed it immensely. Once the romance began, I had trouble putting it down for very long. Henry Eaton's dark, stormy eyes were just my type.
dnr-authors
May 19, 2022I looked inside the book and read some of it and honestly? It’s just women’s fic? Nothing new. Pretty bland. Very boring. The story and the writing itself does not live up to the book comps used to describe this book. $9.99 on for a Kindle e-book is too much for what you get. DNF.
October 19, 2024
Good book to read on the bus going to Newport..... I enjoyed it but did not remember it 5 days later!
It had a period of England which I like and time travel....Amamzon says:
"Winner of Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence in Historical Fiction, Silver Medal Winner for Historical Fiction/Time Travel by The Coffee Pot Book Club, Reader Reviews Grand Prize Winner in Fiction, Reader Review Gold Medal in Romance, Book of the Year Awards, and "Highly Recommended" five-stars award and Honorable Mention in Historical Time Travel, 2022 Book of the Year by The Historical Fiction Company."
It had a period of England which I like and time travel....Amamzon says:
"Winner of Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence in Historical Fiction, Silver Medal Winner for Historical Fiction/Time Travel by The Coffee Pot Book Club, Reader Reviews Grand Prize Winner in Fiction, Reader Review Gold Medal in Romance, Book of the Year Awards, and "Highly Recommended" five-stars award and Honorable Mention in Historical Time Travel, 2022 Book of the Year by The Historical Fiction Company."
September 26, 2023
Finding Jane By Elizabeth Conte
Five stars, beyond time kind of love. Jane was and had baggage the relationship kind. In the present time she was struggling to cope with her feelings while traveling to England to work. But it was there she was ripped to the past and it was there she meets the love of her life Henry. But he also had problems, but through all love will prevail.
Five stars, beyond time kind of love. Jane was and had baggage the relationship kind. In the present time she was struggling to cope with her feelings while traveling to England to work. But it was there she was ripped to the past and it was there she meets the love of her life Henry. But he also had problems, but through all love will prevail.
July 21, 2023
I had to catch my breath as I finished the last page of Finding Jane! I don't have enough adjectives to describe this novel. It's delightful, engaging, clever, creative!
Of course, there's the time-travel romance theme throughout, but within these pages, you'll find philosophy, wisdom, the paranormal, science fiction, and suspense, the latter with twists that you couldn't or wouldn't expect. In one particular storyline, (I don't want to give anything away) Conte provides the reader with a slight hint predicting what might be around the corner but holds back just enough to let readers have fun discovering for themselves whether or not their assumptions are correct. That's just good pacing, and the author gets that rhythm right throughout the whole story. And speaking of pacing, the love scenes flow seamlessly and have the perfect amount of sensuality for this genre.
The characters in Finding Jane are distinctly drawn and genuinely likable. Of course, there's one sleazy nineteenth-century cad in the midst. (A reader forgets that amid all the gentlemanly honor and decency of the period, there certainly must have been a few of those 'characters' "back in the day.")
The author adds a loveable motherless child to the story, and we can't help but wonder who would play that role on the big screen. The time-travel facilitator was also a delightful character. He is a teenager, wise beyond his years, and although a minor character, it would also be fun to cast that role. But I'm getting ahead of myself, or am I?
The gowns and English countryside descriptions are sumptuous and reflect the author's evident aesthetic sensibilities. Of course, before we fall too much in love with the era, Conte brings us up close to reality with her description of nineteenth-century London's air that's 'saturated with grime' and the 'pungent smell of coal, smoke, rotting food, and sweaty people.'
As other reviewers have mentioned, this book will transport you out of the present. It's precisely what we need to face the challenges in our own period of history. I highly recommend this debut novel that Elizabeth Conte has fashioned out of a brilliantly creative mind. I'm glad I "found Jane," and I think you will be too.
Of course, there's the time-travel romance theme throughout, but within these pages, you'll find philosophy, wisdom, the paranormal, science fiction, and suspense, the latter with twists that you couldn't or wouldn't expect. In one particular storyline, (I don't want to give anything away) Conte provides the reader with a slight hint predicting what might be around the corner but holds back just enough to let readers have fun discovering for themselves whether or not their assumptions are correct. That's just good pacing, and the author gets that rhythm right throughout the whole story. And speaking of pacing, the love scenes flow seamlessly and have the perfect amount of sensuality for this genre.
The characters in Finding Jane are distinctly drawn and genuinely likable. Of course, there's one sleazy nineteenth-century cad in the midst. (A reader forgets that amid all the gentlemanly honor and decency of the period, there certainly must have been a few of those 'characters' "back in the day.")
The author adds a loveable motherless child to the story, and we can't help but wonder who would play that role on the big screen. The time-travel facilitator was also a delightful character. He is a teenager, wise beyond his years, and although a minor character, it would also be fun to cast that role. But I'm getting ahead of myself, or am I?
The gowns and English countryside descriptions are sumptuous and reflect the author's evident aesthetic sensibilities. Of course, before we fall too much in love with the era, Conte brings us up close to reality with her description of nineteenth-century London's air that's 'saturated with grime' and the 'pungent smell of coal, smoke, rotting food, and sweaty people.'
As other reviewers have mentioned, this book will transport you out of the present. It's precisely what we need to face the challenges in our own period of history. I highly recommend this debut novel that Elizabeth Conte has fashioned out of a brilliantly creative mind. I'm glad I "found Jane," and I think you will be too.
July 20, 2023
I must admit reading Finding Jane took me out of my comfort zone. I don’t often seek out “women’s fiction.” But as I settled into the book, the author won me over. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the read, anxious to the turn the page and learn what came next for Jane Reynolds. There were several reasons for my enjoyment.
First and foremost is Conte’s gift for description. Whether describing the clothing worn by her characters in 1830s England, or the beauty of the English countryside, or the grit, grime and stench of London, Conte gives it to you in exquisite detail.
That gift extends to the rich cast of characters to the point I could picture them clearly, whether it was Henry, his sister Lillian, Dr. Cummings, Uncle Samuel, Anne, and my personal favorite Mrs. Bishop. Even the children in the story are pictured vividly.
Second is Conte’s well-constructed plot. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, she threw me a curve and blew away my assumptions. Conte handles the “big questions” skillfully. Having been transported to 1830’s England, will Jane ever get back to her life in modern America? Will Jane and Henry overcome the many obstacles keeping them apart? Then there is the question of time travel. Can the author convince me it is plausible? Somehow, she managed to make me believe.
Finally, I was completely enchanted by the beautiful narrative and the dialog. Conte is not only a skilled craftsman, she has done the hard work of immersing herself in the language of 1830s England.
I’m glad I stepped out of my testosterone-soaked comfort zone and read Finding Jane. It was a pleasure, and I was sorry to see it end. Keep an eye on Elizabeth Conte. I’m sure there is more great work to come.
First and foremost is Conte’s gift for description. Whether describing the clothing worn by her characters in 1830s England, or the beauty of the English countryside, or the grit, grime and stench of London, Conte gives it to you in exquisite detail.
That gift extends to the rich cast of characters to the point I could picture them clearly, whether it was Henry, his sister Lillian, Dr. Cummings, Uncle Samuel, Anne, and my personal favorite Mrs. Bishop. Even the children in the story are pictured vividly.
Second is Conte’s well-constructed plot. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, she threw me a curve and blew away my assumptions. Conte handles the “big questions” skillfully. Having been transported to 1830’s England, will Jane ever get back to her life in modern America? Will Jane and Henry overcome the many obstacles keeping them apart? Then there is the question of time travel. Can the author convince me it is plausible? Somehow, she managed to make me believe.
Finally, I was completely enchanted by the beautiful narrative and the dialog. Conte is not only a skilled craftsman, she has done the hard work of immersing herself in the language of 1830s England.
I’m glad I stepped out of my testosterone-soaked comfort zone and read Finding Jane. It was a pleasure, and I was sorry to see it end. Keep an eye on Elizabeth Conte. I’m sure there is more great work to come.
September 13, 2025
A compelling story that made it hard to put down. This is a true romance with unique twists and turns in it that I honestly loved. If you’ve enjoyed Bridgerton, you’ll love this! It veers a tiny bit into Harlequin territory at times (the love scenes are…descriptive), but doesn’t take away too much from the story.
If the author/publisher ever reads this: I do think it could benefit from one more copy edit and proofread. Found more than a few typos and a lot of repetitive words/sentences very close together. The only reason I’ve taken star off.
Loved reading this book, thank you Ms. Conte!
If the author/publisher ever reads this: I do think it could benefit from one more copy edit and proofread. Found more than a few typos and a lot of repetitive words/sentences very close together. The only reason I’ve taken star off.
Loved reading this book, thank you Ms. Conte!
July 19, 2023
I gave this book 3 stars but I really would’ve given it 3 1/2. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. However, the book had errors! I found two typos, plus many sentences that were written in an awkward fashion. There were inaccuracies, too. English people in the 19th century did not get married anywhere other than a church. Someone might’ve hosted a reception at their house, but not an actual wedding ceremony.
I realize this book is self published, so I want to be kind. I did enjoy it.
I realize this book is self published, so I want to be kind. I did enjoy it.
May 25, 2022
To begin with I read the bad reviews and was surprised that they did not even read the entire book. I then proceeded to read all the positive reviews. I was intrigued.
The book did not disappoint The author has done a fantastic job keeping the reader engaged.
A MUST READ
The book did not disappoint The author has done a fantastic job keeping the reader engaged.
A MUST READ
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