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Then and NowThen and Now by Willa Hix

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Finally, I finished reading my work book today, at work, even! It was Then and Now by Willa Hix, and it's part of Jove's "Time Passages" line. This was a bit of a different time travel romance, in that the heroine, Ginny Thornton, came forward in time, rather than traveling back.

Just as Ginny is beginning to realize that her husband, Thomas, is keeping secrets, he kills himself while they have a house full of guests, who are waiting to celebrate the turn of the century. Even worse, Ginny learns that Thomas has left her destitute, and she may lose Malmaison, the house that her parents bequeathed her. Morose, Ginny ventures into the conservatory, where she falls asleep, only to awaken 100 years in the future.

Dr Samuel Sutter loves his work with botanicals. He's trying to find a cure for age-related dementia, and he would just as soon skip the lavish party his mother wants him to host at Malmaison, the house that's been in his family for a century. Fortunately for Sam, his mother hired a curator to get the house in shape before the big event. When he comes across a woman slumbering in the conservatory, he assumes it's the curator.

Ginny is confused and adrift, but she is reluctant to confide her true circumstances to anyone, lest they think her mad. She plays along with the role of curator, gradually becoming used to the odd gadgets, mannerisms, and fashions of this new time. Eventually, however, Sam puts two and two together. He finds Ginny's tale remarkable, yet credible at the same time. Together, the two of them begin working together to restore Malmaison to its former glory. Ginny, however, wants to return to her own time to set things right. By now, Sam has fallen in love with her, and he insists on accompanying her to the past. They accomplish the feat, but will Ginny want to return to Sam's time to be with him, or remain in the past, where she belongs?

The story was lovely, although I no longer consume time travel romances the way I used to. My only complaints are that Sam and Ginny fell in love far too quickly, especially considering that, in her reality at least, she'd only lost her husband weeks earlier. I also wasn't overly fond of the traveling forward, as it seems that would be much more difficult to adjust to, as compared to someone going back in time.

Favorite line: She was either the best scam artist in the world or she was nuttier than his aunt Mildred's banana bread.

Eh, I'll give it four stars. The story was well-written, and my "complaints" are purely subjective.

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