Hummingbirds Know Where to Fly

by E.C. Roderick

Time broke me. Then, it stole me before it healed me. Like each stitch sewn into cloth, each day weaves into the fabric of time tying me to a man in unbreakable love.

I'm married to Leif now and my former life is fading away from me. All that I've ever known and loved no longer exists. And as I grapple with my new reality in 1756, I realize that I'm falling for him in a way that is uncommon; it is not only important to my survival, but it's fundamental to my existence.

War rages across the territory and Leif balances between his duty as a British officer and self-preservation as he serves the king. Leif's life is a mystery to me. But as I learn more about him, I discover the perils he faces to his own survival and I fear for him.

​I loved and lost once, and I've come to see that time and fate show no mercy. Now, I wonder if this war with France will tear us apart. After everything that's happened, will Leif and I overcome the threat of separation and outlast time?

Genres: Time Travel, Historical Fiction

780 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2023

About the author

After graduating from college with a B.A., E. C. Roderick pursued a career as a classical fine artist while teaching fine art to adults and children for 10 years. She has been commissioned to do many portraits, landscapes and still life paintings that hang in private homes and public institutions throughout the United States.

After marriage and becoming a mother, she placed her painting and teaching career on hold while devoting her full time and attention to her family. While taking care of the needs of her children, she took up the pen and discovered the creative joy of writing in what little spare time she had been afforded. During this time she created the story for her award winning debut novel, Taken, as a result of her love for history and romance.

Reviews

[Kellylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found myself rolling my eyes or sighing quite a bit. For me, this was a couple hundred pages too long. There was way too much detail about buttons and pins and whatnot. There were also a few scenes or conversations that were the almost identical and did not help the story along in anyway.

Sylvie, the main character, is absolutely annoying. She seems to know everything and can only have it her way. In a time where so much of what she does or wants to do is not permissible, it is just weird to have it just accepted. Plus her over abundance of knowledge in almost everything, is not plausible.

I actually won this one in one of the giveaways.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the first novel quite a while ago, I struggled to recall key details to then get back into this meandering storyline. Sylvie and Leif seem quite different from each other as 200+ years separate their lived experiences. Much of their interactions for the first half of the book at least seem like a mixture of “getting to know you” facts while showcasing all of Sylvie’s unique modern knowledge. Set at the time of the American revolution, I did enjoy the ups and downs of the plot as well as the various characters encountered. War and the threats to living and fighting in this time period amidst all of the political undertones were well described. I also liked how Sylvie tried to process/understand the drastic differences within society at this time for different strata of people as well as the roles men/women as well as husband/wife held. It was interesting to note just how many things unique things that Sylvie could do so very well, clearly setting her apart from most if not all women of this time. I think the last 1/3 of the story appealed to me the most because of the suspenseful situation as well as the prominent conflict between the main characters. With the secrets absolute Sylvies’ unexplained time travel finally shared, I am interested yet apprehensive as to the direction the story will take next. As well, I’m still a bit baffled how hummingbirds come to be the title subject for this novel. I’m sure there’s an inference there somewhere that clearly I have missed. Outlander meets The Last of the Mohicans was much of the feeling I had while reading this story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, historical love story! Leif and Sylvina are together in Concord to be wed before heading into Boston for honeymooning and war tribunals. Sylvia is still learning how to live as an 18th century wife when she learns more about Levi's parentage and that she's now a baroness and that he is closely related to the King! The thing that troubles her is that he owns indentured servants and slaves. Her 20th century mind can't wrap itself around to his way of thinking. She has much to adjust to! And then he gets marching orders to head to a distant posting and will be leaving her? Nope! Off she rides to join him! She uses her medical knowledge to help heal the wounded and deal with an outbreak of pox! She gets kidnapped by Indians only to be rescued by the love of her life!

There is a lot these two learn about each other. I love how she introduces modern music to him, plays the violin and piano, cooks like a dream, ice skates for him! And he just marvels at this wonder that he marries! And in the end, she does tell him she's from the future. It boggles the mind what he has to think. What's in store for these two going forward? What will happen with her pregnancy? How will he fight in the upcoming war for independence? Looking forward to the next book in this series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a trilogy. A time travel romance that has many parallels to Outlander. I think that the author is showing tremendous promise with these first two books and it's obvious that a lot of hard work and accurate research has gone into writing about the time period. However I believe that the story itself could demonstrate a little more originality. Also Sylvina our 21st century woman adapts surprisingly well to the 18th century. There are problems of course, but not as many as there would be if I had landed there. She is an extremely accomplished woman: a surgeon, musician, cook, hairdresser, teacher and an accomplished ice skater. Leith is a Scottish soldier who is a Duke. He fell in love literally at first sight. These characters are compelling enough that despite my criticism I really want to finish this trilogy. This book plays with your emotions and keeps you wanting more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Erika M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I like being taken back in time and this book certainly fit the bill! The history is spot on as well as the depth and complexity of the characters. E.C Roderick seems to be an up and coming writer and I believe will do well with the depth of storytelling. If you like reading romance/time travel/history, then Hummingbirds Know Where To Fly might just be your thing.

[Rob Renner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cannot understand!!

Cannot understand why an educated woman cannot understand her surroundings. The culture she has arrived in.
Why she does not adapt to the world she was thrust into boggles the mind. Sylvie is too perfect with Cordon Blue experience, medical education, multiple musical instruments and languages. Yet she cannot adapt to 1757 time frame. Story has potential, but not believable.

[Lori Flemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Taking history's and weaving in characters to engage we readers in what could be a disaster . warning the reader beforehand that the words used in the book are very similar to what would have been used by most of the Scottish settlers of the time,helped with having a better experience with the reading

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I want to thank the author and Booksirens for allowing me this opportunity.

Upon receiving this copy, the author made a note that if you haven't read the first book in the series then you should do so prior to reading this one-which I did. I choose not to look at any previous comments or notations about the first book, choosing to go in blind just as I did this one.

Pros: This series offers magic, love against all odds, a solid plot, and a common villain. If I had read this series before another similar time-traveling one I would have rated this book higher.

Cons: However, about three chapters in I started to see a lot of similarities between this series and another that is a little better known. I choose to push through in hopes that it was just a first book 'oops' and perhaps I had been mistaken. Coming into this book, I clearly was not. After finishing both books, I went into the comments and found I was not the only person who picked up on this issue.

I am a massive fan of this other series-they are my comfort books, and I re-read them twice a year. I find myself split while reading these books, as a beginning author, I am truly starting to understand the heart, soul, and love one pours into their writing. Whenever my book is published, I don't know how I would react to someone writing a VERY similar story to mine. Now, as a reader, I am always looking for books that run along the same lines as this other series because I am so utterly drawn to that world that I get into book holes during the six-year writing gaps between each book.

The author did a nice job creating a different time frame and did thorough research in order for you to feel as if you are in the story. It's well written with strong characters that come across realistic and interesting. The only thing that holds me up on this seriously is the fact that it is way too much like another time-traveling story.

[Anastasia Morozova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 Stars!

First, I’d like to say that I was very impressed and found myself interested in the author’s knowledge of history and the specific century the book brought the reader into. I felt immersed into that time period by amazing description of events, people, garments and buildings. Fascinating knowledge, research and representation.

Continuing with the disliking…
Through the first half (if not more) of the book we get to know that Sylvie is Perfect in cooking, skating, playing musical instruments, knowing sign language, speaking other languages, being good in medicine, good swimmer etc etc….

I found it a little annoying.

Leif was way too generous and loving with her, allowing her to be Her even when he could not understand that a woman can act the way she did! Sylvie put him in so many difficult and dangerous situations and still, her ego was sky high!!! She refused to obey and listen to everything she was asked/told to do, acting her own way and making Leif’s life so much complicated!

And how she allowed herself to talk to Leif just made me sooo mad!!! I didn’t find Sylvie anything but arrogant and immature behaving specifically in the century she was teleported into!

I have to admit, closer to the ending of the book, I started liking it a little more. Also, I can’t stop thinking about this book for days now…

I have high hopes for the next book and I can’t wait to read it.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is really only a 3 ½ stars. I enjoy the detail given to describing the locations, the people, the clothing, food and decorations. The first few chapters are interesting as we learn of Leif’s heritage but the very explicit love making scenes were too much for me I felt they were only there to pad out the book. The book was very long and very slow moving, although I would like to see what happens with our lead couple I will not be reading the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series highly reminds me of the Outlander series which I have thoroughly enjoyed and have done the same with this one. The ending revelations were very interesting but that is all I will say as not to spoil it for other readers. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[E.C. Roderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to everyone who's read TAKEN. I hope you'll enjoy the continuation of Leif & Sylvie's story as much as I loved writing it.