A Portrait in Time [Paperback]

Barbara Donlon Bradley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

(Time-Travel Romance) Trey Dalton is having a very bad day. Someone is trying to destroy his plantation, his mettlesome aunt has come to visit, and some strange woman has appeared on his doorstep spouting some nonsense about coming from the future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A Portrait in Time is both amusing and mysterious. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot. You can never be sure who is friend or foe. You'll find some amusing as well as serious moments throughout the story. Just what are those strange moves Alex uses to protect herself? You'll have to read the story to find out. You'll never look at a portrait again without wondering.... ~ Brenda Gayle for The Write Lifestyle

Barbara Donlon Bradley has penned a marvelous time-travel featuring a strong, independent, modern-day heroine. Ms. Bradley uses the time-travel plot twist of disbelief, yet with a very light touch. A PORTRAIT IN TIME is an absolutely delightful read, a true must-read for any lover of time-travel romances. If you've never taken the plunge, then I heartily suggest this for your first venture into time-travel. ~ Judith Rippelmeyer for Romance Reviews Today

A Portrait In Time is a very entertaining read. It has all the ingredients I love to see in a time travel romance with some few surprise ingredients. You will experience all emotions reading this book. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. I will definitely look for more work from Barbara Bradley in the future. She has a warm and carefree writing style that touches this reviewer’s heart. She makes the transition to the past believable to the reader. To sum it up, this book is a keeper!!! 4 ½ Roses --Angel Roper, Romance News

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759902666
• ISBN-13: 978-0759902664
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Portrait in Time isn't just another time travel . . ., November 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Portrait in Time (Paperback)

Astrophysicist Alexandra Tibideaux is quietly working in California when she receives a message from her grandmother in New Orleans. She quickly heads for New Orleans only to discover her grandmother is fine, but wanted her home to tour a newly refurbished plantation that has just opened to the public. There, Alex sees a unique portrait of someone who looks exactly like her. Upon reaching out to touch the likeness, her fingers begin to tingle and she is transported back in time.

Plantation owner Trey Dalton is trying to discover who is out to destroy his plantation, his most prized horse, and his life. On top of all that, he has unexpected visitors; his aunt and a strangely dressed woman who has just appeared out of nowhere. He has many problems to solve while protecting his new visitor until he can learn her secrets.

A Portrait in Time isn't just another time travel. This is a strong love story that brings two souls together who have belonged to each other throughout time.

The two main characters play against each other successfully and the deepening feelings they demonstrate throughout the book are very believable. Each successive scene draws them deeper and deeper into each other's love. The hero and heroine meld together as two halves form a complete whole.

Anyone who likes a good story, a bit of an adventure, a gentle clash of characters, and a happy ending will enjoy reading A Portrait in Time. It will make you laugh, sniffle, and rejoice in the strength of love over time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An ok read, February 12, 2005

By 

Crystal (Tampa Bay, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Portrait in Time (Paperback)

This book was an okay read. It's one that I'd have rather checked out from the library than purchased. The book has a lot of typos in it (ie. misspelled words, words left out of a sentence, ect.)

I was a bit disappointed at first. Reading the description the book sounded like it was going to be very promising. I couldn't wait to receive the book and get started reading!

The book is a very easy read. I kept hoping for it to pick up so I actually read the entire book in a day. It had some great moments, but the book didn't draw you into the story. I didn't feel the characters pain or happiness. I felt like I was reading a story. At first the descriptions start out well. You can visualize what they're wearing and how things looked. But by the 4th chapter, the descriptions of people, places and everything stops. I also felt like I was left hanging. There was a hint in the book that the aunt "knew" the truth, but then it never said anything more about it. It also mentions how she needs to get 2 people (I won't go into much detail so not to give the story away) to fall in love, but it never tells you if they did or not.

I'd suggest checking this book out from the library or going to a B & N store and grabbing a cappuccino and reading it there at the store instead of purchasing this book. It is an ok read, I just wouldn't suggest buying it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Time Travel falls short on many levels, September 1, 2004

By 

Stephanie Smith "English major in progress" (Blanchester, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Portrait in Time (Paperback)

Alexandra "Alex" Tibideaux receives a message that her grandmother: "I need you." Unable to get a hold of Grams, Alex rushes from California to New Orleans. Grams is fine; she only wants to attend the re-opening of the Dalton Plantation with her granddaughter. Alex agrees-since Grams is her only living relative and is 93 years old. Later that evening, Grams shows Alex a picture of Trey Dalton and how he fell in love with a woman in their family; one who had the same name as Alex... and had disappeared and was never found.

While at the plantation, Alex sees a painting of herself wearing period clothing. Curiosity causes her to touch the portrait... which transports her back to 1878. She awakens in the same house... but Trey Dalton, his aunt, and their servants are very much alive.

Trey Dalton doesn't have time for a woman who mysteriously shows up at his plantation; talking nonsense about how she's from the future. And he doesn't need his Aunt Rose to interfere by going around telling everyone that Trey and Alex are getting married. Both Trey and Alex have to go along with the idea to keep people from gossiping.

But there's someone who wants to ruin Trey and will stop at nothing to do so. Trey believes he knows who is responsible... or does he? Only after a series of potentially disastrous events does he learn the truth.


Stephanie's Review:

Other reviews talk about how Bradley weaved "an engrossing tale of time travel, romance, and suspense."

The time travel was typical: Woman from the present goes back in time where she has to adjust to her new life while wondering if she'll ever return to the present.

The romance was unbelievable - and not in a good way: Trey and Alex spent more time bickering and arguing than anything else. I'm still wondering how the two fell in love. It just "happened."

The suspense was predictable: It's easy to tell who did what when.

Bradley also has a habit of not going deep enough into the story. There are lots of instances where things are just glossed over. Two examples: (1) Alex arrived in 1878, and basically just accepted everything that happened to her - except when she wanted to return to Trey. (2) Alex kept a journal of her time spent in 1878. When she returns to 1997, Grams gives her the journal. She starts reading... only to find a new entry on the last page from Trey. This could've been a very emotional moment, but Trey's entry was cut short.

There's also a lot of typos in this book. I understand that no book is edited perfectly, but the typos here are beyond the norm. After awhile, they started sticking out like a sore thumb. Usually, with traditional publishers, the fingers can be pointed to the copyeditors. But it's questionable with e-publishers. I know of some e-publishers who do more editing beyond what an author does. And then there's some e-publishers who expect their authors to do all of the editing. I'm not sure where Hard Shell lies as this is my first Hard Shell read.