Time and Again, Unclaimed Legacy and Every Hill and Mountain by Deborah Heal Book Reviews and Giveaway

Time and Again (book 1)

Visiting another century…not the summer vacation Abby had planned. 

Abby thinks tutoring an “an economically disadvantaged adolescent” as her college service project for the summer will be a snap.

Merrideth, her sullen 11-year-old student, thinks “No thanks, I don’t need a babysitter.”

John thinks Abby’s kidding when she tells him she can fast-forward and rewind life. Not her own, of course, but that of the girl who lived in Merrideth’s house 160 years ago.

It’s difficult for Abby to break through Merrideth’s emotional wall. The girl has been closed down ever since her parents’ divorce, especially since she was forced to move to the dilapidated old house that her mom inherited. But when her dad sends her a top-of-the-line computer to make up for it, Abby and Merrideth discover a crazy program that invites them to “Take a Virtual Tour” of houses around the world— including Merrideth’s house 160 years ago.

It’s a tour all right… a tour of the past when the house was new and a girl named Charlotte Miles lived there.
It’s like being there, only better. They know Charlotte’s thoughts and feelings. They experience her joys and frustrations as she courageously takes on a huge challenge, risking her life for others while her father is off fighting in the Civil War. Watching from a distance, Abby and Merrideth gain a new perspective on their own lives, their faith strengthened as time and again they see God’s loving hand in Charlotte’s life.

Click here to explore the history behind Time and Again! 

Unclaimed Legacy (book 2)

The olden days aren’t all they’re cracked up to be . . .

“I call it time-surfing,” Abby said.

“It’s like being there,” Merri said, “except no one can see or hear us.”

“Whatever you call it,” John said, “that was crazy—beyond realistic. I mean, I was inside that guy’s head.”

 Abby’s weird computer program is working again. And it comes in handy when she and her friends agree to help the Old Dears with their family tree.

Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies’ ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson, Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family’s reputation. But was he really guilty? Abby and John must get inside the mind of a murderer to find out.

And while they’re rummaging around in the Old Dears’ family history, they also find Nathan Buchanan, a heroic relative connected to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. More importantly, they discover God’s promise to bless a thousand generations is true—and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed.. 

The History behind Unclaimed Legacy.

Every Hill and Mountain (book 3)

 Those who have read Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy know that Abby Thomas is a college student on a summer service project with 11-year-old Merri. And they know that the summer is not going the way Abby had expected--but in a good way. For one thing, she meets a very nice guy named John Roberts. And for another, she discovers a strange computer program called Beautiful House that lets her fast-forward and rewind life. 

Not her own, of course, but those of the people who lived in Merri's old house.
And the Old Dears' old house, and...well, any old house.


And since the program worked so well for the Old Dears' family
tree project, Abby's college roommate Kate hopes it will help her find out more
about her ancestor Ned Greenfield. And Kate's fiancé Ryan thinks the program
has lucrative commercial potential. 


Abby and John reluctantly agree to help Kate, but only on
the condition that she and Ryan promise to keep the program a secret, because
if it fell into the wrong hands...well, no one wants Big Brother invading their
privacy.


The two couples take a trip to the tiny town of Equality,
set in the hills of southern Illinois and the breath-taking Shawnee National
Forest. According to Kate's research, Ned Greenfield was born there at a place
called Hickory Hill.


The mayor, police chief, and townspeople are hospitable and
helpful--until the topic of Hickory Hill comes up. They seem determined to keep
them away, telling them, "There's nothing there for you to see." 

Eventually they find Hickory Hill on their own--both the
mansion and the lonely hill it sits upon. Built in 1834, Hickory Hill stands
sentinel over Half Moon Salt Mine where the original owner John Granger
accumulated his blood-tainted fortune. 


Abby and her friends meet Miss Granger, Hickory Hill's
current eccentric owner, and they eventually get the chance to time-surf there.
Their shocking discovery on the third floor concerning Kate's ancestor Ned
Greenfield is almost too much to bear. What they learn sends them racing to the
opposite end of the state to find the missing link in Kate's family tree. And
there they are reminded that God is in the business of redemption--that one day
he'll make all things new.

I am on my fourth career.

First I was a farmer’s wife, homeschool mom, and then finally high school English teacher. But now I’m living my lifelong dream of being an author. It didn’t come easy or fast. As a matter of fact, my first book, Time and Again, was 18 years in the making. Unclaimed Legacy was released in September 2012, and Every Hill and Mountain completed the trilogy in April 2013. These novels span several genres. They’re part sci-fi, part Christian fantasy, and part Christian historical fiction.

Next, I’m trying my hand at writing Christian romantic fiction–sometimes known as Inspirational Romance. It’s in the brainstorming stage. And then there are a million other story ideas after that. So many stories. So little time. I’m sure I’ll want to go back to historical fiction. And I’ll let you in on a secret: I just thought of a brilliant way for the characters from the trilogy to make a come back.

When I am not writing I enjoy reading, gardening, and learning about southern Illinois history.  I am married to Bob, my high school sweetheart, and have three grown children, three grandchildren (Yay! Another one due in October!) and two canine buddies, Digger and Scout (Scout had a cameo role as “Dr. Bob” in Unclaimed Legacy. Digger was too shy for the limelight.)

Connect with me

Good News! All your favorite characters from the trilogy live on in a next generation short story series called Once Again. Find out about it HERE.

My Review:

 There are 3 books that are in this series. I have always loved time travel novels and these were no exception. These were a totally different kind of story that I have ever read. In the first story Abby and Meredith happen to discover a computer that allows anyone to look at any house that they want to anywhere. This however is not looking at the house as it is today, but how it looked many years ago.
    They are able to feel like they are  right there standing with the residents of years ago. Sometimes they may find out things that they wish they had not. Sometimes even though stories need to be told, it can be very difficult to hear them. In the next 2 novels they used the program on the computer to search for other people's ancestors. Just think, if you could watch a story about your family unfold, many years before, but you cannot interfere, would you want to try it? I  give these books a 4/5. I was given these books for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own.

Giveaway:
1 print copy of Every Hill and Mountain. Please enter here:

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.