Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she's the same person at her core in both times, she's leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she's not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other--but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

When the Day Comes

Who is planning on joining?

I'm planning on joining. This is one of the two NTM authors I plan to read for our January New Beginnings challenge.

I am joining and am looking forward to this read!

I am joining! Have been wanting to read this for a while.

I started the book and read the first chapter, a lot going on last few days so have not read much, plan to read it soon.

This looks like it's a unique read. I'll jump in on this one!

I'm joining! This book just came in from the library. I can't wait to read it!

I have had this on my shelf for a year! This maybe the push I need to finally read it!

I'm in!

I'm in. Downloaded this one last night and hope to start it today.

I'm hoping to get to it this month.

I wanted to wait until #3 comes out before reading this one.

I’m joining! Looking forward to this one.

I just finished this one . . . and y'all! Whooo! I think we'll have a LOT to discuss starting on the 15th!

I finished the book and I have to admit I didn't expect to like it that much since romantic historical fiction is not so much my cup of tea. However, this book was fantastic!!! I loved everything about it! The romance was subtle, the story was great, and I loved the sci-fi aspect of the time traveling.

Just a note to those who might be joining us for the first time . . . this is a 'spoiler free zone' right now. What Simone shared about her thoughts about the book is spot-on for what is appropriate until the 15th when I will post questions about the book and then we can discuss everything (including spoilers!) to our hearts' content!

PS ~ Simone, I had similar feelings as you going into reading the book . . . was a wee bit hesitant . . . for me, I wasn't sure how the 'time travel' aspect would work rather than the 'historical romance' facet . . . but it was definitely a good read!

Just finished this one, and I have a new book to add to my favorites list. This is a New to Me author, and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Wow, what a wonderful book!! I couldn't it down, I enjoyed it so much!

I loved this book! It was so good that I kept reading when I should have been doing something else.

This comment serves as the official point where spoilers are allowed . . . read at your own risk!

(I found the following questions online, as there were none listed in my edition of the book:)

1. When the Day Comes is set in two very different eras, Colonial America in 1774 and Gilded Age New York and England in 1914. If you had to pick one of these eras to live in, which would it be and why?

2. If you were given the gift of living in two time periods, no matter the time or place, which two would you choose? Would you choose historical eras or the future?

3. Was there anything that surprised you about the history of Colonial America or the Gilded Age?

4. Libby and her mother are the first female public printers in Virginia. Many women worked and owned business in the Colonial Era, such as printers, dressmakers, wigmakers, tavern keepers, apothecaries, blacksmiths, and midwives. If you lived in Colonial America, which job would you have tried?

5. Libby’s mother tells her that time-crossing is a gift, but Libby sees it as a burden. What do you think?

6. One of the struggles Libby endures is whether or not she wants to have children, because she’s not sure if she wants to pass her time-crossing gift to the next generation. What would you choose?

Please feel free to answer any of these questions (or all of them!), or start a discussion based on something else you want to talk about with regards to what Libby went through in both 1774 and 1914!

When I was about ~8, I recall going to sleep at night wondering where I went when I slept. I reasoned out that I must be awake on the other side of the earth, being another person living in China. I tried to “win” by staying up all night. A few times I won, but mostly exhausted myself to sleep. I never asked anyone about what happens when sleeping or told any one of my speculation.

Discussion items.
1- First thought, 1914. Improved plumbing and electricity. Yea, not up for the hardships.
2- 1950s, really better times? More innocent times? Still many hardships around women having choices to provide for self. I guess it would wind up a waitress in this time. My mom grew up in these time so it just feels more nostalgic.
3- Owning the printing press and how close to poverty at any moment the family still experiences.
4- I gather I would not have much choice of work, and been a maid unless married.
5- All lives have choices and expectations, choices are a gift. The hardship of choices, especially in the book, is that you lose a chance to redo or continue to know people you love. As life progresses, we make choices and lose contact or outgrow with many of those we meet along the way.
6- How exciting to think your kids could tell you more of the past or future, the ability to dream in realities of those stories knowing real hopes or fears.

I thought it was interesting that Libby was fully aware that she was living two different lives . . . and I wonder when she started to understand that what she was experiencing weren't vivid dreams. I mean, certainly her 1774 mother would have been able to explain to her, but obviously Libby wouldn't have been able to understand at a super young age.

I also think it was cool that Libby's 'marked mother' was able to share about her own 'other life' to some extent. And I can't imagine how fascinating and frustrating it would be to have understanding about what WILL happen . . . just not yet . . . especially with how vastly different the world would have been between 1774 and the 1980s/90s . . .

Here's a question for y'all that was not included in the list I found ~ did you at any point expect the twist that came with Henry? I thought at first when he said he had things he couldn't tell her that he might also be someone who had different time paths, but by the time he talked to her on Christmas Eve 1774, I was pretty convinced otherwise.

I love this book and this series so much! This is my second time reading this book and I think I might pick up the second book again. I am so excited for the third book in this series!

1 - 1774. I love Colonial America! I love everything about this time period. It would also be cool to be a part of the American Revolution.
2 - I would choose historical eras. Either WW2 or the Civil War. Both time periods fascinate me.
3 - I didn't realize how many American heiresses had married into English aristocracy.
4 - I would have tried to be a printer. I love writing and keeping up with current news.
5 - Being a time-crosser could be a burden or a gift. It would be hard to choose which time to stay in, but you could use your knowledge from both periods to make a difference in whichever time you choose.
6 - I would want to have children so I could learn more from their experiences, but it would be hard to have to share them and then one day maybe lose them.

I just finished this book. When I first started the book, I was sure that I was not going to care for the book. The whole-time crossing concept did not appeal to me. However, the more I read, the more I really got into the story. And the ending was such a shocker! I totally did not see that coming with Henry. I had guessed that Reggie would die in the war but I never suspected the true ending. Loved it! I enjoyed that the overwhelming theme was to trust God no mater what. He will see you through and He knows the best path!

Karen wrote: "I just finished this book. When I first started the book, I was sure that I was not going to care for the book. The whole-time crossing concept did not appeal to me. However, the more I read, the m..."
I love when a book surprises me in a great way like that!

Just like Karen, I didn't expect to care much for the book, but it will definitely be on my top list of books read in 2024. I also added the second book to my TBR. I really liked how the characters would forfeit their life in one timeline if they meddled with events. It is tempting to know that you could use your knowledge from another timeline to change circumstances or influence people in a certain way. Knowing that you would no longer be able to time hop helps think twice before making rash decisions.

1. While I would really like to see the events of the Revolutionary War unfold, I think I'd prefer 1914 with the convenience of plumbing and electricity.

2. I would probably choose a timeline in the past, say the 1980s (that was a crazy fun time), and a future timeline, but not too far into the future, maybe the 22nd century.

3. I wasn't really surprised by things/events in either timeline. But I did like the fact that the female characters were portrayed as strong and independent women, not some timid, old-fashioned, sticking to the old male-made rules of a traditional path for women at the time. I wouldn't consider myself a feminist as some of them are seen today with all their extreme and man-hating attitudes and opinions, but I do believe that women can be great contributors to society, whether they work outside the home or not.

4. Hm, I'm not sure. I love arts and crafts, so dressmaking maybe.

5. I think time-crossing is both a gift and a burden if you are not supposed to meddle in events based on your knowledge from a future timeline.

6. I would probably also ponder whether to have children or not. The chance of the kids inheriting the gift would make me stop and consider all pros and cons. I think I would have to make that decision based on the circumstances and on the era I'd be in.

Kate wrote: "I thought it was interesting that Libby was fully aware that she was living two different lives . . . and I wonder when she started to understand that what she was experiencing weren't vivid dreams..."


I'm not sure when I thought Henry might be a "time-traveler" or whether it was wishful thinking, but it did cross my mind. I was glad he was!

This was a wonderful book, with such an interesting premise of being able to live in two time periods and choose between one. The author did an amazing job with the premise. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I finished the book and loved it! So different from others I have read. Was hoping for a twist at the end, but not exactly the way it happened. I guess I was hoping Reggie would redeem himself. But so very happy for Henry and Libby.

I had suspected Henry might be a time-traveler but couldn't guess how it would work out. So it was really exciting to see it come together at the end.

I kept thinking about how it would be for a young baby & toddler switching families every time they went to sleep. So confusing!! But fortunately it is just fiction. So it works well and I loved this book so much. Definitely plan to read the next books in the series.

Katrina wrote: "I finished the book and loved it! So different from others I have read. Was hoping for a twist at the end, but not exactly the way it happened. I guess I was hoping Reggie would redeem himself. But..."

I totally agree with you about the baby/young toddler thing. How confusing that would be, and probably a little frustrating too, as you don't yet have language to explain what's happening!

I'm a little late to the game for this one, but this book was a win for me so I wanted to chime in. I loved the twist the author put on time travel. Many of my thoughts and reactions were the same as others who have posted, so the only additional thing I'll add is that I really appreciated the author's note at the end of the book. She shared how a very challenging time in her personal life during the writing of the last section of the book influenced the story and what she wanted to convey the most: during those times that we feel overwhelmed and are dealing with situations in which we have little or no influence/control, we must trust that God's got it! Our sight is so limited, but His sight is complete and perfect.

I will confess that the twist at the end with Henry caught me by surprise. And now I need to read the next book in this series because I must find out what a DOUBLE mark on a child means!

Janet wrote: "I'm a little late to the game for this one, but this book was a win for me so I wanted to chime in. I loved the twist the author put on time travel. Many of my thoughts and reactions were the same ..."

The 'book blurb' for the second book kinda gives away what a double mark probably means for Henry and Libby's daughter, but yes . . . I didn't think of that possibility until . . . what??? lol

What is it about being human that makes us so ready to forget that God has us in His hand, even when we have countless past experiences to remind us???

I'm going to go ahead and archive this thread, but still leave it open for comments. 🙂