Out of Time [Mass Market Paperback]

Samantha Graves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

SHE'S GOT THE SIGHT
For museum curator Jillian Talbot, her ability to see an object's history is her little secret. She never expects it to land her in the middle of a deadly battle for money and power between dangerous underground elements. The object of their greed: an ancient crystal lens that can unlock mysteries from the past... but only for someone with the sight. The one person who doesn't seem to want her dead is a cynical tomb raider who Jillian can only hope is worthy of her trust...
HE'S IN TOO DEEP
Simon Bonner has paid the last of his debts and is out of the looting game...until the lens lands on his doorstep. The other half of the crystal's secret is locked inside the eyes of a straitlaced psychic who still believes in doing the right thing. Now he must track the mystery deep into Mexico, where his desire to stay alive and his growing passion for the sexy seer make every move a dance with danger.
OUT OF TIME
Tomorrow could be history.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When Simon Bonner answers the door to discover a fellow tomb raider, the man now married to his ex-wife, shot, bleeding, and begging for his help in rescuing said wife, who has been kidnapped, he is plunged into a high-stakes, life-altering adventure. Entrusted with an ancient crystal lens and told to find Jillian Talbot, a museum curator who has the secret ability of being able to “see” people related to historical objects, Simon arrives just in time to save her from an abduction. Pursued by murderous rivals who want the lens and the fabulous treasure it will reveal with the use of Jillian’s talents, Simon and Jillian venture into the jungles of Mexico to find a fabled lost city and a secret that could change the path of humankind. This page-turning, thrilling romantic adventure is just what the fans of the Indiana Jones movies have ordered: pure escapist bliss. --Diana Tixier Herald

Review

"...A riveting plot to go along with an arousing romance. Do yourself a favor; read OUT OF TIME." (Romance Reviews Today Jane Bowers )

"Edge of your seat suspense rockets you forward from page one. The fast pace still allows for character development....Intriguing issues are raised that will give the reader pause long after the past page is turned." (Huntress Reviews )

"...A rollicking, heated, Indiana Jones style romantic adventure ... OUT OF TIME is absolutely sensational." (Romancereaderatheart.com Debbie Jett )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Forever (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446618373
• ISBN-13: 978-0446618373
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Samantha Graves grew up reading science fiction novels, comic books, and her brother's Cracked magazines.

In high school, a creative writing teacher told her she should be a writer, but she decided to go to college instead. In college, a writing professor told her she should be a writer, but she decided to be a computer programmer instead. A husband, a cat and two kids later, an adult education teacher told her she should be a writer.

She finally gave in, and after selling the first novel she ever wrote, decided that all those teachers were right. Seven novels later, she continues to bring her unique blend of high adventure and sizzling romance to her romantic suspense novels.

Samantha has won numerous awards for her novels, and is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Kiss of Death chapter.

By day, she works as a technical writer. By night, she co-hosts a weekly writing podcast, pens the books she was destined to write, and dreams up adventures.

You can find her award-winning futuristic romances at her C.J. Barry website www.cjbarry.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, romantic and a fun read, August 21, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of Time (Mass Market Paperback)

Do you like Indiana Jones-type adventures? This is the real thing, with a bit of hot, steamy romance in the hot, steamy and dangerous jungle. Throw in some psychic connections to the past, received though museum antiquities expert Jillian Talbot.

A crystal lens was found, one that leads to an ancient archive of knowledge. Tomb raider Jackson dies as he hands the lens off to Simon Bonner, telling him he has to take on the task of finding the treasure, as Bonner's ex-wife Celina has been kidnapped, and the treasure has to be exchanged for her life. The only one who can use the lens is the "seer," -one Jillian Talbot. Bonnner gets to her in time to save her from being kidnapped, and takes her on to a safe house where they figure out the ancient writing on the sides of the lens is ancient Olmec. And they go to Mexico. They seek the help of Mancuso, an Olmec expert, and Jillian's friend Paulie, a computer geek, tags along to keep her safe. Along the way Jillian fights her growing attraction to Bonner, because she despises his profession of tomb robbing, despite the fact that she knows that museums often buy from such plunderers.

Lots of people are after them: the Mexican police; Kesel, the murderous villain who was the most recent owner of the lens; and Celina, Simon Bonner's nasty and duplicitous ex-wife. Jillian does succumb to Simon's attractions, but she is not sure if she can give up the treasure archive when it might benefit all of mankind. Will she choose love? Will Simon betray or save her? What is the archive, and who left it?

Armchair Interviews says: A great beach read, exciting and romantic, a thrill a minute!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OKAY---BUT COULD HAVE SKIPPED IT, May 28, 2010

By 

SJ - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of Time (Mass Market Paperback)

Perhaps if I had read the first book in this series, it would have helped me to warm up to the characters in this one. There was some excitement to the story, but it flowed in jerks and starts. Also, things became a bit jumbled and my interest tended to wander. Would have helped if the "bad guys" were not so obvious early on and some surprises could have been saved for the end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romantic suspense about a psychic woman helping a tomb raider. There were some good lines and some interesting characters., November 22, 2008

By 

Jane (Chicago, IL, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Out of Time (Mass Market Paperback)

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I debated between 3 stars and 4 stars, but I went with 4 because I was chuckling or laughing several times during the first third of the book. The last 2/3 of the book was less surprising and more like a typical romantic suspense. It was good but not great. There was a lot of intrigue, with different groups of people wanting the ancient treasure. Different bad guys were able to follow Simon throughout his trek. One did it through the GPS on his cell phone; another had a GPS on his rental jeep. Later he changes cars, so I wasn't sure how the different groups were tracking him. I guess it wasn't that important to know how he was being followed so easily. I enjoyed the collection of characters. This is the second book in the series, which is about Jillian who gets psychic impressions through sight. The first book "Sight Unseen" is about Jillian's sister Raven who gets psychic impressions through touch. Raven sounds like a stronger and more interesting character (an ex-thief). Jillian was more of the good girl from the beginning.

STORY BRIEF:
This is an Indiana Jones type story. Simon is a tomb raider who wants to quit. A fellow tomb raider Jackson asks Simon for help. Jackson's wife has been kidnapped. The ransom is an ancient treasure they want Jackson to find and bring to them. Jackson gives the information to Simon shortly before Jackson dies. Simon needs Jillian's psychic help to be able to find the treasure. He goes to her to obtain her help. How he meets her and gets her to help him is fun to read.

DATA:
Story length: 316 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Length of sex scenes: 0.7 to 2.8 pages. Total number of sex scene pages: 6. Setting: current day New York City, Boston and various locations in Mexico. Copyright: 2008. Genre: paranormal romantic suspense.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date, the author has written two romantic suspense books under the name Samantha Graves. Both books are published with different titles in the UK. My reviews are:
2.5 stars. Sight Unseen (UK title: A License To Steal). Copyrt 2007. Review Date: 11-15-09.
4 stars. Out of Time (UK title: The Legend of the Crystal Lens). Copyrt 2008. Review Date: 11-22-08.

The author has also written several futuristic romance stories under the name CJ Barry.