Time May Change

by Nan Asquith

"Setting off on a glamorous Mediterranean cruise as guest of the parents of a charming man who was determined to marry her, Rowan had not a care in the world. But the idyllic prospect was very soon to be shattered by a million to one coincidence which turned the cruise into an emotional battleground for Rowan. Of all the men in the world, for her former fiance appeared on the scene again- and how could they possibly avoid one another when they were constantly in the same party. And as time went by, it became increasingly clear to her that Blake's effect on her was as disturbing as ever."

Genres: Harlequin Romance, Romance

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Nan Asquith and Susannah Broome are pseudonyms for Nancy Evelyn Pattinson.

Nancy Evelyn Pattinson, the author of 20 or so romantic novels, settled in Harpenden, England after WWII and stayed there until shortly before her death in the 1970's.

Reviews

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I can read a book three times in a short period of time and love it every time I guess it deserves five stars.

On first glance there isn't much in it. The heroine Rowan is going on a Mediterranean cruise with her boyfriend and his family. He is in love with her and is pretty much nagging her to death to marry her. The cruise is for her to make up her mind.

Only trouble is that Rowan is wary of love and certainly doesn't love Jeff. Four years ago she was engaged to a Blake, a racing car driver and they were madly in love. The youthful Rowan, afraid that he might be killed and under pressure from her parents who were against the marriage and playing the "daddy's health" card, argued with Blake and they parted.

So seeing Blake again on the cruise, with another woman friend and scarred from a racing accident, shakes Rowan to the core. He has changed into a more cynical version of himself and she's grown up so even if the spark is still there, it appears unlikely that they should even consider reconciling. Even without the complication of Jeff and the other woman.

This is a lovely vintage romance with the prerequisite touristy aspects that no doubt lightened the lives of many a stay at home mother or overworked office girl in the early sixties. It was originally published in 1961, the year I was born which adds a certain extra something to my enjoyment.

[Feeling-bookish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm on a reading binge of vintage romances from the 1960s to the 1980s, and I've found some beautiful stories and great characters. This wasn't one of them.

I liked the way Rowan's turmoil was described, and I loved her interaction with Louise. But in the end, I felt that Rowan was expected to give up far too much of her life and what was important to her, while Blake made no concessions. It was like, "If you love me, you would accept me as I am and follow me to the ends of the earth," but hello, if you love her, shouldn't you be making a similar commitment? I know, it was reflective of its times, but I felt Jeff cared far more about Rowan than Blake ever would. Anyway, if she's happy with her choices, so be it.

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was pretty entertaining. I had some problems with the HEA, specifically that she is willing to accept his return to race-car driving because she loves him so much. I know, I know, she should want him to be happy above all things, but you know she's going to end up dealing with an invalid at some point. There is a possibility he won't go back to racing, of course, but while that is still on the table, she's bound to be miserable.

[RomLibrary]

Setting off on a glamorous Mediterranean cruise as guest of the parents of a charming man who was determined to marry her, Rowan had not a care in the world.

But the idyllic prospect was very soon to be shattered by a million-to-one coincidence which turned the cruise into an emotional battleground for Rowan. Of all the men in the world, her former fiance appeared on the scene again - and how could they possibly avoid one another when they were constantly in the same party.

And as time went by, it became increasingly clear to her that Blake's effect on her was as disturbing as ever...

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars