Secrets in Time by Allison Stuart Interview, review and giveaway!

Secrets in Time

by Alison Stuart

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BLURB:

Can love endure across time?

When a seventeenth-century cavalier hurls himself over her garden wall, Doctor Jessica Shepherd is more angry than surprised. Although she ís no stranger to military re-enactors, there ís something different about Nathaniel Preston. If he ís to be believed, something…or someone…has sent him forward in time from the midst of a civil war to the quiet English countryside of the twentieth century.

With time working against them, Nathaniel has to convince Jessica why fate brought them together before he ís forced to return to his own era and certain death in battle.

Can the strength of love overcome all obstacles, even time itself?

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Excerpt:

“If you could lend me your horse, I would be grateful. It is a long ride home. You have my word that I will return it anon.”

“My horse? I don’t own a horse. Look, Nathaniel, you’ve lost a bit of blood, if you like I can give you a ride home.”

“But you said you had no horse?”

“In the car.” I could not help the exasperation that crept into my voice. His continuing delusion had really begun to concern me. “Nathaniel, look at me. What year do you think this is?”

“The year of our lord 1645.”

“1645?” I stared at him. “Nathaniel, it is 1995.”

He narrowed his eyes. “No, you jest.” He sank onto the kitchen chair, his eyes glassy.

“I do not jest. Now stay there. I’m going to ring my brother. Perhaps he can talk some sense into you.”

Keeping a wary eye on my visitor, I reached for the phone and carried it into the living room while I waited for Alan to pick up.

“Hey, Jess.” Alan greeted me cheerfully.

“Alan, are you busy?”

“I’m correcting papers, nothing I can’t put off. Is this important?”

“I have a man in my kitchen who thinks he is living in 1645,” I whispered.

“Sounds like a case for the psychs, not me.”

“Please come over, Alan. There is something about him...sorry I can’t explain--”

“Is he threatening you?” Alan’s tone was alarmed.

“No, not at all. He’s just a little...confused.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Alison Stuart is an award winning Australian writer of historicals with heart.  Whether duelling with dashing cavaliers or waywards ghosts, her books provide a reader with a meaty plot and characters who have to strive against adversity, always with the promise of happiness together. Alison is a lapsed lawyer who has worked in the military and fire service, which may explain a predisposition to soldier heroes.  She lives with her own personal hero and two needy cats and likes nothing more than a stiff gin and tonic and a walk along the sea front of her home town.  She loves to hear from her readers and can be found at her website, facebook, twitter and Goodreads.

Find Alison on the Web

Website:  http://www.alisonstuart.com

Blog:        Ms.Stuart Requests…:  http://www.alisonstuart.blogspot.com

Facebook:  Alison Stuart- Writer https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alison-Stuart-Writer/177254485659744?fref=ts

Twitter:  @AlisonStuart14

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4636079.Alison_Stuart

 Buy Link:  http://lyricalpress.com/secrets-in-time/ 

Interview:

1.Where, when and what war is he from?

 My lovely hero, Nathaniel, is a “cavalier”, one of the dashing heroes of the English Civil War which was fought in England between 1642 and 1648. The “cavaliers” were the supporters of King Charles I (the royalists) and are generally pictured as wearing wide brimmed hats with feathers, lace collars and colourful clothes, making them a complete contrast to the dour parliamentarians in their dark puritanical clothes and pudding bowl haircuts.

 As history relates, the King was defeated in the English Civil War (and executed in 1649). The last great battle and scene of his greatest defeat was the Battle of Naseby, fought on June 14 1645.

SECRETS IN TIME is set in the weeks leading up to the Battle of Naseby…

2. Does he get transported to same place, but different time? or are both different?

 Nathaniel is transported forward in time to 1995 (with the help of a little witchcraft). Fleeing a troop of parliamentarians who flings himself over a garden wall and finds himself in Jessica’s garden bed. However he has a very good reason for his travel through time as Jessica will discover when he takes her back to 1645…

 Being a man with a scientific mind and innate curiosity he is fascinated by modern life…particularly bicycles…

3. Are there more books with the same characters?

 No, as fun as this was to write, it is a self contained story.

4.Was it hard to write time travel? How do you keep past life from present, and vice versa?

 This story began as a writing exercise but once I got into it, the mechanics of time travel really fascinated me. I tried very hard to see the twentieth century through Nat’s eyes--what was different? What was the same? How would he react to learning his fate…and those of his descendants?

In some ways it was easier to send Jess back in time because she was familiar with history and had the foreknowledge of what was to come. I particularly enjoyed working out a way to reveal that she had been present in 1645…but no spoilers!

The real challenge was working out how not to influence history. What if Nat had revealed to King Charles he would lose Naseby and end up with his head on a block? It was so much fun to write!

5. What would you like my readers to know?

This is not a common period of history for romance readers and I would love your readers to come over and meet Nat – as a gentle introduction to the English Civil War. Like the American Civil War, it was a time of incredible danger, heroism and romance (along with the bitterness of a civil war that pitted brother against brother, father against son). So if you are wearying of regency rakes…come and meet a genuine cavalier.

Giveaway:

Alison will be awarding ecopies of her two previously published books THE KING’S MAN and the award winning BY THE SWORD, which are set in the same period as this story, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a gift pack of Alison Stuart products to a randomly drawn host.

Comment on the different blogs listed in the link below(tour dates link), to get more entries! The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-book-tour-secrets-in-time-by.html

My Review:

I thought that it was really funny that a doctor found the time traveler. Doctors are usually by the book, and very scientific. I loved the banter that the doctor used to try and prove that time travel didn't exist. Nathaniel is wounded, by a musket, and it was funny to see Nathaniel get used to the new medical equipment. Does Jessica even know how to tend to a musket wound? Nathaniel had to cope with all the new technology of 1995 as well. He didn't even know about televisions. 

I really liked the witchcraft that was in the book, and Nathaniel's reason for time traveling was a very sweet reason, and it made me like him even more. I enjoyed the ending and was satisfied with it. I also enjoyed the time period. When Jessica go to the past with Nathaniel it was funny to watch her live without all of the modern conveniences of 1995. This book had war drama, a love story, and witchcraft!  What a fun mix.

I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.