I liked the setting and liked the characters (almost too many characters were very likable). If the Cornish smugglers felt a little gentlemanly for their trade, that was OK, too. And if so many romances worked out well, I can enjoy a few happy endings once in a while.
However, likable as some of the characters are, they felt like placeholders, and the romances were a bit conveniently coincidental. The time travel simply had too many discrepancies--or too few "logical" explanations.
Go ahead and make up a "logical" explanation for what causes the slippage, for the differences in the amount of time spent in past and present, for the arrival in a particular period or location--something more than the house being built on ley lines--and maybe I could suspend my disbelief.
I had no problem reading it, no place that I wanted to walk away without finishing, but neither was it a particularly memorable experience.
Fiction. Chic Lit. 2011. 430 pages.
9 comments:
Have you read Connie Willis' time travel novels? I am fascinated with the idea, and she is among the best I've read.
Maybe this wasn't one of her best books. I know Danielle likes them a lot and she has written a few very interesting reviews but not of this one. Was it you first Kearsley? I'd like to read one but maybe I'll pick another one first.
I only liked time travel in The Time Traveler's Wife
Laurie - I read To Say Nothing of the Dog years ago and enjoyed it...thanks for reminding me! I also have had Willis' Dooms Day Book on my list forever, and still haven't read it. Now I'd like to re-read Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog!) by Jerome Jerome (not time travel, but what inspired me to read Willis) and To Say Nothing of the Dog by Willis.
Caroline - I looked at the Amazon reviews and many dedicated readers were disappointed. It IS the first book I've read by Kearsley, and I may try The Winter Sea to get another view of her work.
bookmagic - A lot of people loved that book, but although I enjoyed it, I had problems with the time travel in it, too. Don't know why I get so picky in this sub-genre, especially when I love the idea.
The Winter Sea was my first Kearsley and I really enjoyed it. I have read more from her since, but that remains my favourite. I enjoyed this book, too, but not quite as much.
The Winter Sea was my first Kearsley too and it is still my favourite. I do think I am genetically predisposed to really enjoying her books though!
Kailana - I think everyone must have enjoyed The Winter Sea. I can see the draw to Kearsley's writing and to her characters even if the time travel didn't work for me.
Marg - :) I love "genetically predisposed" -- what a great way to explain our being drawn to certain stories! And we all ARE drawn to particular characters, settings, and plots.
I'm another of those who loved The Winter Sea. I have a cope of The Rose Garden in my Kindle books (must have been on sale, at some point) and The Shadowy Horses on my shelves, but still haven't read them. I do like time travel, though. In fact, now I'm craving a Connie Willis read, thanks to Laurie!
"Copy", not cope. Sorry. Tired, today.
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