Customer Reviews

The Call (Time Masters, Book One)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This past year I have read many marvelous works, mostly by unknown or little known authors. I've read works ranging from westerns to fantasy and science fiction. None, however, have flowed so naturally, drawn me in so quickly and easily, kept me guessing, as TIME MASTERS, BOOK ONE: THE CALL, by Geralyn Beauchamp. In 1672 a young boy was born in Scotland by the name of Dallan MacDonald. Six years later, an incident he remembers as if in a dream, he meets a young girl, but the book starts later, when Dallan is an adult. The book begins with the Campbell raid and massacre of the MacDonald clan at Glencoe, Scotland. He fights valiantly to keep his word that he'd protect his family safe, only to be wounded and see the destruction of the MacDonald clan, the death of his brother Alasdair, during this tragic event. One other thing Dallan remembers is the huge dark warrior who subdues the highland warrior. Great period fiction right? Yes, but hang on. Dallan wakes up about 2000 years later. He doesn't realize it, but he's being trained for a special reason. That reason and the girl he met as a child come to a head, and of all places, back in the 1990s. If you look at the title and think this has something to do with time travel, you're right, but it has to do with so much more. Intricately interwoven throughout this epic novel are comedy, heartache, laughter, song, passion, suspense, treason and more. I finished this 566 page paperback book faster than I think I've finished any other book, even half the length. The only thing I didn't enjoy about it, was turning the page and finding that I had finished. I eagerly await her 2nd installment in this engrossing trilogy.

David Brollier - author of THE 3RD COVENANT

"The Call" is the first release by debut fantasy author Geralyn Beauchamp in a series called Time Masters. It chronicles those beings unknown to us who are able to split time and intervene in world events that make or break history.

I've been searching for words to fully describe to you what Time Masters is like...

Take the magical creation of Middle Earth, fill it with the mystical faith of Narnia, and toss in a fellowship of unlikely comrades, a quest to find the maiden who is pure of heart and body...a little gladiator style action, LOTS of humor, and romance that will make the hardest heart swoon.

This is epic stuff, dear friends! "Time Masters" grabbed me by the heart and did not let go until the final page was turned (and that was a LONG time, since it's over 550 pages in length!)

I've been told the entire storyline consists of twelve volumes in all, and all I can say is "Yippee!!" The writing is crisp, the humor is heartening and genuine...the passion is deep, and the faith is rich. To sum it up in a word...amazing.

The story moves so swiftly that I had to catch myself reading too fast and had to slow down. Each sentence kept me in anticipation and each chapter delivered. It DID satisfy. I was thrilled to have read a great story that left some things to your imagination. It did not include vulgar and nasty details of sex and murder. These are things that really take away from a story. Instead, the author brilliantly wrote the details and climaxes to affect your heart, mind, imagination, and dare I say, soul?? I found myself lost in each character. There is depth. A book about battling evil, virtue, loyalty, strength, true love, a Creator, masculinity, femininity, meaning and purpose. I absolutely cannot wait for the next in the series. Meanwhile, I will read this book over again. I highly recommend this read. Is it possible to be satisfied AND want more??

From the moment I first read the synopsis I was intrigued. Time travel, a Scotsman, fantasy and true love are all wrapped into one novel.

In Time Masters we discover that there is a Creator God who created races both Muiraran and Human. Then he ordained that they must co-exist and intermarry in a very unique way for the future of both races. Muirarans contain special abilities, that when placed in loving submission to a human mate can change the course of history.

Time Masters: The Call is a fast paced and interesting story centered around two individuals, one human and one Muiraran, who are destined to change the world. Only together can they stop a great evil.

While being drawn up into a fascinating story, I also found myself captivated with the spiritual concepts in Time Masters. The spiritual concepts were told in a subtle way and beautifully woven into the fabric of the story.

Another thing that I loved about Time Masters was the depth of the characters. My favorite character was Shona, the Muiraran maiden. Everything about Shona's character makes you desire to see her protected and cherished. This adds to the suspense of the story as forces conspire to capture, control and even experiment on her. This also draws the reader into the conflict and heightens the intensity of the struggle. Dallan becomes a larger than life hero, as despite his struggles and bitterness over his situation, he begins to uncover his desire to protect and cherish Shona.

Time Masters captivated me and I highly recommend it. I found the premise creative, the theme of virtue uplifting, the writing descriptive and the story highly engaging.

How to describe this book is an interesting question. You could almost ask what Time Masters isn't and the answer would be- Nothing!!! It has every genre, all the elements of a good story, and a superb quality of writing rolled into one. Dallan is not only a hunk, he's also got the Romance factor going on, if he didn't belong to Shona and was for real - I'd definitely be interested. This is some of the best writing I've seen out there and mind you I read voraciously. The plot has been excellently crafted and the characters come to life on the page as well as in the reader's imagination even after putting the book down. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll even be frightened at times. If you like rollercoasters - hop on. The story goes from a "comedy sketch" due to characters being out of their accustomed environment on one page to fight scenes with action, adventure and suspense on the next. The emotional fluctuations come at you often and fast in this book but that is part of what makes Time Masters so riveting. It will keep you up all night just to find out what happens on the next page, in the next chapter or even how the book ends. I have yet to find another author who can evoke such intense responses with the written word. This is one book worth owning and rereading many times. Geralyn puts so much into the story that you find new details and thoughts popping up every time you read it. I quit counting my "reads" for this book before it was even released and can't wait to get my own copy to read it yet again. I am certainly planning on adding it to my library as well as any sequels she writes. I am already chomping at the bit for Time Masters Book Two: The Prophecy which is scheduled to release Fall 2008. In the meantime be sure to look for this new release from Cold Tree Press. You just might find a new author to add to your favorites list. I can assure you I did.

This past year I have read many marvelous works, mostly by unknown or little known authors. I've read works ranging from westerns to fantasy and science fiction. None, however, have flowed so naturally, drawn me in so quickly and easily, kept me guessing, as TIME MASTERS, BOOK ONE: THE CALL, by Geralyn Beauchamp. In 1672 a young boy was born in Scotland by the name of Dallan MacDonald. Six years later, an incident he remembers as if in a dream, he meets a young girl, but the book starts later, when Dallan is an adult. The book begins with the Campbell raid and massacre of the MacDonald clan at Glencoe, Scotland. He fights valiantly to keep his word that he'd protect his family safe, only to be wounded and see the destruction of the MacDonald clan, the death of his brother Alasdair, during this tragic event. One other thing Dallan remembers is the huge dark warrior who subdues the highland warrior. Great period fiction right? Yes, but hang on. Dallan wakes up about 2000 years later. He doesn't realize it, but he's being trained for a special reason. That reason and the girl he met as a child come to a head, and of all places, back in the 1990s. If you look at the title and think this has something to do with time travel, you're right, but it has to do with so much more. Intricately interwoven throughout this epic novel are comedy, heartache, laughter, song, passion, suspense, treason and more. I finished this 566 page paperback book faster than I think I've finished any other book, even half the length. The only thing I didn't enjoy about it, was turning the page and finding that I had finished. I eagerly await her 2nd installment in this engrossing trilogy.

David Brollier - author of THE 3RD COVENANT

Book One of "The Call" series, Time Masters is a fantastic, sweeping epic. In the year 3698, a terrible civil war is on the brink of erupting. To prevent unthinkable ruin, Dallan MacDonald must inherit the responsibility of being a Time Master - yet to earn the title he must earn the love of the nigh-otherworldly Muiraran Maiden. Stolen away as an infant and hidden in another time, she rejects the truth of her nature, and earning her love will be no small task! A race against time to prevent the destruction of civilization ensues, in this dramatic and absorbing saga of heroes, villains, love, and hatred.

Time Masters was a really fun adventure, surprisingly so. When I saw that it was over 500 pages, my heart dropped. I thought,"Oh, no. It better not be boring or I'll never get through it." Hurray! It as anything but boring. I was excited about getting back to it when I had to pull myself away for duties like meals and sleep (but I didn't do much of that). I found it easy to become immersed in the world of the 3600's and the different time/cultures that Dallan and sweet Shona inhabited. I was impatient to see them finally get together and save the world...or would they be able to do it in time? Marvelous character development. I see this as a book for both teens and adults. Now I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

When I first read this book's description, I thought it reminded me a little of Doctor Who. Timelords, Time Masters, sound kind of similar? Sure.

The comparison may stand, but you'll need to add a few random elements to the mix. A fierce Highlander, a dozen cats, a grinning African, several worried chaperones, chocolate chip cookies, an antique weapons shop, an alien race, a gruesomely evil villain and his clueless hirelings, and a plentiful supply of cliffhanger climaxes. And that's not even the half of it.

You will need to be fairly tolerant of grammar and sentence structure best described as "original". However, this is certainly part of the author's effervescent style, even if it tends towards chaos at times. The rambunctious storyline is so ''out there" that its daring expressiveness is just one more aspect to leave you shaking your head in disbelief. But dinna fash yerself - the writing style is certainly vivid and gripping, including a particularly evocative rendering of the hero's Scottish dialect. Good job!

The plot will keep you on your toes for sure. You can sense how the author must have had an exciting time writing it. There are many scenes that are curiously poignant, and many profound allegorical images of things like justice, sex, music, faith. But the deepest comments are those regarding the state of being in love, being intended for the other, giving your heart away, and finally sharing one heart. All this across the breadth of three time periods - a distant past, an even more distant future, and one something like our present day.

A zany mix of cliches and genres, often hilarious, quite possibly the wildest journey of your life, aud certainly anything but predictable. If you are able to turn a blind eye to a few anomalies, I think you'll enjoy this rip-roaring tale very much indeed.

If you are hungry for a thick, juicy read bursting with flavor (fantasy, romance or adventure, take your pick), Geralyn Beauchamp's phenomenal Time Masters, Book 1: The Call is gourmet fare that will leave you hungry for more. Not since Diana Gabaldon have I read a novel more intricately woven with remarkable depth of character, spellbinding plot and humor and pathos that will steal your heart. This book was highly recommended to me by a friend, but I must admit I was not prepared for the sheer scope of imagination, powerful writing and flesh and blood characters I encountered. Not only do they draw you into their incredible world, but they take up residence in your own, haunting your mind and your emotions long after the final page is devoured. For fantasy fans, romance lovers or those who just want a delicious taste of fantasy at its very best, Time Masters is, without question, a true feast for the senses.