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Some Don't Come Back
What if you met the woman of your dreams, but she lived 100 years ago? In a moment of crippling despair, Jack Slater is given the opportunity of living the year 1920 to experience what life would have been like compared to 2020. While there, he interacts with a woman. A woman he could not possibly have imagined would ever have anything to do with him. They fall in love and spend an incredible year together. Their love growing by the day. However, he must return to the present on New Year’s Eve 1920. Could he return? Would he leave knowing he would never see her again? Jack Slater must face that decision. Will he come back? Or will he stay forever in 1920?
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2022
About the author
Don Meyer
34 books2 followersDon Meyer is a writer and speaker. He is the author of six books:
the American War
The Sheriff Tom Monason Trilogy:
Winter Ghost
McKenzie Affair
Uncle Denny
Jennifer's Plan
The Protected Will Never Know
a Vietnam Memoir
Always ready to speak about his rediscovered passion to anyone who would let him or would listen (a passion his late wife called his nice little hobby). These days Don is content to just write and sit quietly, but a simple nudge and he’ll gladly tell what he knows, or thinks he knows.
the American War
The Sheriff Tom Monason Trilogy:
Winter Ghost
McKenzie Affair
Uncle Denny
Jennifer's Plan
The Protected Will Never Know
a Vietnam Memoir
Always ready to speak about his rediscovered passion to anyone who would let him or would listen (a passion his late wife called his nice little hobby). These days Don is content to just write and sit quietly, but a simple nudge and he’ll gladly tell what he knows, or thinks he knows.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2022
Wearing a tuxedo and a COVID mask, Jack Slater is ready to say goodbye to 2020 and ring in the New Year. Recently dumped, fired, and evicted from his home, he does not have a lot to celebrate. On his way to a party, he finds himself talking to an old Gypsy woman inside a restaurant that was no longer in business. Instead of offering him a glimpse into his future, she suggests he step back 100 years into the past and live there for one year. He can return, but she warns him that “Some Don’t Come Back.”
Accepting her offer, Jack wakes up on January 1, 1920, with a horrible hangover and no idea who he is. He is now Edward Harrison Gardenier, who has returned from the Great War with injuries. His awareness of Jack Slater is gone. Edward’s friends assume his consumption of homegrown alcohol has addled his brain and quickly catch him up on who they are. They remind him he met a beautiful heiress named Katherine Bellingham the night before. She is very interested in him, despite his lower social standing. For the next year, Jack Slater gets to experience life and love through Edward’s eyes. When the year ends, he is drawn back to the Gypsy and, once again, as Jack, he has to decide whether he wants to return to 2020.
I found “Some Don’t Come Back,” by Don Meyer to be intriguing, especially because it dealt with both our current pandemic and the one from 1918. The concept is fascinating, having to consider whether life would be better 100 years ago than it is today. I had also wondered about this, but I did not see how it could have been a better time when there was no technology to help stay connected with family and friends. Back then, they had to deal with Prohibition, the Spanish Flu, the Great War, and the lack of technology. Since Jack had no awareness of his future self, technology did not play an issue, as he could not miss what he never knew. It was the same for the people at that time. They were doing the best that they could and were able to focus on what they had, because they did not know what they were missing. People also had the same desires that they do today, but they were better at hiding them or keeping them in the closet. This added a lot to the complexity of the story.
Don Meyer did a great job taking on the task of bringing 1920 alive. He obviously did a lot of research to make the setting of this story realistic. Tying all of what was happening, together in one story, really made me think about what life was like back then. In History classes, I learned about events individually. In “Some Don’t Come Back,” I feel like I gained a greater understanding of these times; more so than I did from a history book. I liked his character development as well. The female protagonist was ahead of her times in her thoughts and actions. It is women like this that helped make history. I also loved some surprise twists!
Overall, I found this story to be enjoyable, and I hope that there will be other books to follow created in different timelines.
Accepting her offer, Jack wakes up on January 1, 1920, with a horrible hangover and no idea who he is. He is now Edward Harrison Gardenier, who has returned from the Great War with injuries. His awareness of Jack Slater is gone. Edward’s friends assume his consumption of homegrown alcohol has addled his brain and quickly catch him up on who they are. They remind him he met a beautiful heiress named Katherine Bellingham the night before. She is very interested in him, despite his lower social standing. For the next year, Jack Slater gets to experience life and love through Edward’s eyes. When the year ends, he is drawn back to the Gypsy and, once again, as Jack, he has to decide whether he wants to return to 2020.
I found “Some Don’t Come Back,” by Don Meyer to be intriguing, especially because it dealt with both our current pandemic and the one from 1918. The concept is fascinating, having to consider whether life would be better 100 years ago than it is today. I had also wondered about this, but I did not see how it could have been a better time when there was no technology to help stay connected with family and friends. Back then, they had to deal with Prohibition, the Spanish Flu, the Great War, and the lack of technology. Since Jack had no awareness of his future self, technology did not play an issue, as he could not miss what he never knew. It was the same for the people at that time. They were doing the best that they could and were able to focus on what they had, because they did not know what they were missing. People also had the same desires that they do today, but they were better at hiding them or keeping them in the closet. This added a lot to the complexity of the story.
Don Meyer did a great job taking on the task of bringing 1920 alive. He obviously did a lot of research to make the setting of this story realistic. Tying all of what was happening, together in one story, really made me think about what life was like back then. In History classes, I learned about events individually. In “Some Don’t Come Back,” I feel like I gained a greater understanding of these times; more so than I did from a history book. I liked his character development as well. The female protagonist was ahead of her times in her thoughts and actions. It is women like this that helped make history. I also loved some surprise twists!
Overall, I found this story to be enjoyable, and I hope that there will be other books to follow created in different timelines.
July 12, 2022
I've just finished reading this book and have many things to say. First of all, I have two complaints. I think the book needs a final round of editing, that's one. And secondly, I have many questions about the time-travelling involved, especially about the main character's thoughts on that topic, and unfortunately, my questions weren't answered or even addressed.
Having that said, I did actually enjoy reading the book. It's a refreshing love story based on two unlikely characters, which gives the book a somewhat magical feel. I also enjoyed all the little facts about life in 1920 that are sprinkled throughout the book. An upcoming presidential election in which women were allowed to vote for the first time, the Prohibition, Babe Ruth. Oh, and of course the pandemic, the Spanish Flu, which made the story feel eerily familiar.
All in all, if you like the 1920s and are looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read, this book might be just what you're looking for.
Having that said, I did actually enjoy reading the book. It's a refreshing love story based on two unlikely characters, which gives the book a somewhat magical feel. I also enjoyed all the little facts about life in 1920 that are sprinkled throughout the book. An upcoming presidential election in which women were allowed to vote for the first time, the Prohibition, Babe Ruth. Oh, and of course the pandemic, the Spanish Flu, which made the story feel eerily familiar.
All in all, if you like the 1920s and are looking for a lighthearted and entertaining read, this book might be just what you're looking for.
July 19, 2022
Some Don't Come Back by Don Meyer is a lighthearted book that takes a person's "What if..." and makes it a reality. This novel takes its readers on a journey with someone who is trying to find love and happiness. It's a very simplistic story that I'm sure anyone who likes a simple romance novel would adore. Although there are times where the characters can be frustrating to read, it still have its moments where it would have any reader falling in love with the character and plot. If anyone loves a good simple romance novel with a little twist to it, then they would definitely like this book. My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 star.
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July 5, 2022This really could be a hallmark movie. A good romance with something magical but it also reminds me of the show Outlander mixed with Great Gatsby. So if you’ve watched that you definitely want to read this.
You might want to shake the characters a bit because they are making interesting choices but if think when you want that happy ending that all romance books have you just have to grit your teeth and keep reading. I will definitely have to look out for more books from this author because he gained a life long fan.
You might want to shake the characters a bit because they are making interesting choices but if think when you want that happy ending that all romance books have you just have to grit your teeth and keep reading. I will definitely have to look out for more books from this author because he gained a life long fan.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews