Customer Reviews

Heaven's Time (Time Passages Series , No 12)

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

 

 

This is a good story with an ingenious plot. Major Melissa Fuller becomes one of the shooting stars she so loves when she is caught in a meteorite shower while repairing a satellite in space. When Rory McCullough finds her in a wilderness lake in Northwest Washington Territory, it's 1887, and Melissa's memory banks have been fried. The story unfolds as Melissa regains memories of her past life and struggles to reconcile the woman she was, with the woman she is becoming now in the past (a nice literary contradiction!). A tragic turn of events brings the story to a climax, with Melissa forced to choose between the present/past, and her future. The author does a nice job of illustrating how Melissa's character undergoes a transformation and begins to open up to Rory's love. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, lies in the character of Rory. He is a good man, but his personality is portrayed as fairly one-dimensional, even though there are plenty of hints in his personal history that would give us an opportunity to see a few human flaws. It would have been nice to see a little more of the story through his eyes, without so much idealism. However, overall, he's probably the perfect contrast to the jaded Melissa. Shelan is really well-done and the reader gets just enough of her backround to tantalize. Overall, I recommend this book - it has a fairy tale quality that can make you feel good!

For the past decade, elderly Shelan has lived under the protection of architect Rory McCullough in a remote part of the Washington Territory. However, a melancholy Shelan informs her benefactor that it is time for her to leave. Since he never wasted her magic and she does not want him to be lonely, Shelan decides to send Rory a special woman as she mystically departs.

Over a century later, Major Melissa Fuller is outside the space shuttle on a spacewalk when a meteorite shower slams into her, crashing her towards earth. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself under the tender care of Rory.

Melissa does not remember a thing about her previous life in the twentieth century. However, a lesson learned from her harsh former life is not to trust anyone even though her heart tells her to believe in Rory. As the couple begins to fall in love with each other, Melissa has to fully let go of her past in order to gain a lifetime of happiness with the compassionate and patient Rory.

HEAVEN'S TIME is a heavenly time travel romance that feels as if it could truly have happened. The story line is interesting as readers have an opportunity to see inside the heads of the lead protagonists. Rory is one of the best male characters of the year and the vulnerable Melissa demonstrates that courage and moral fortitude can surmount most of the scars of an ugly childhood. However, only love can make it complete. Susan Plunkett provides fans of the sub-genre and Americana romance with an MVP winning novel.

Harriet Klausner

Ever get a warm fuzzy glow after reading a special romance story? That's me right now. Although this story has some tough elements in it, child abuse being the most prominent, the way Ms. Plunkett handles these issues are wonderful. Melissa, the tough-no-emotions-military captain, fears nothing, not even death. Being hurled through time gives her another chance to live life. She is a very complex character, whose past has strictly shaped her. This is why (ironically) being thrown into the past without a memory, forces her to grow and love in a way she never could have if she had retained her memories.

Rory is a little too perfect for my tastes, and is almost too good to be true. He is a great mind reader (knowing what is going on in Melissa's head even before she does), a gentle friend, ideal lover, and a compassionate person. I wonder why he did not chose the church instead of architecture. For the purposes of this story, Melissa needed such a paragon, but I might have given him a few flaws (besides his few bouts of self doubt).

Such tender moments with Rory and the children really make the story complete. There is so much depth and interest generated in this story, that I was sorry to see it end.

It's easy to see why Heaven's Time has been nominated for a RITA. The compelling characters and enthralling story make for page-turning romance. I admired Melissa's strength and courage to face her weaknesses. But Rory. Ah, now there is a hero any woman could fall in love with. This book is a real keeper!

HEAVEN'S TIME is a wonderfully romantic, mystical adventure with an added layer of fascinating science fiction that is just enough to enhance the story, to kick it up a notch. Whether it's space travel or wilderness survival tactics, Susan has a gift of writing subtle details that draw me into the story. She is one incredible writer!

This book is a must add to your collection. The twist to the time travel was quite different and unique. Never before had I read anything like it.

I loved this story. The Hero was so compassionate and wonderful. I hope the character of "Shelan" has a book of her own. All I can say that this book is "one in a million!"

I enjoyed reading this book, and would suggest it to others looking for a good romantic novel . . .If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever