Rating: 4 Stars
The troupe of time travel is by no means new. However, Come Back to Me, by Jody Hedlund, is a fresh take on the tried and true. A mix of medieval history, romance, fantasy, and mystery. The story at points reminded me of Outlander and The Time Traveler’s Wife mixed together with a bit of pixie dust thrown in for good measure.
Marian Creighton is a research scientist looking for a cure to a rear disease that her mother died from and her sister has inherited. Her work is interrupted when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water thought to contain traces of the Tree of Life. After reviewing clues her father left behind, she determines that he has gone back in time looking for more of this holy water that is reported to have cured all ailments. This is just what Marian needs to save her sister’s life.
She decides to follow her father back in time. All the way back to Medieval times she goes searching for the holy water and its cure. Upon arrival she discovers the harsh reality of the times. Women where property and treated as such. Fortunately, she has a savior in the form of a knight by the name of Lord William Durham. William has just returned from the ongoing war with France, known later as the 100 years’ war. He has business to attend to at his estate and just happens to chance upon Marian at the convent his sister is a member of.
The nuns have not treated her very nicely, and in order to rescue her, William offers to marry her. Thinking this is a simple and very temporary solution to her problem, she accepts his offer. However, nothing is as simple as it seems. The peasant uprising and her growing affection for William are vastly complicating things and she is running out of time.
I wish I had the space in this short review to compare and contrast this book with Outlander. I saw a lot of similarities and a lot of differences and it would be an interesting discussion. Just suffice it to say that while the time periods are different the main characters face very similar trials. As with Outlander, the drama is what makes the book such an interesting read. Given the fact that the events of the time period are real this added an extra layer of suspense and believability to the story.
The first thirty to forty pages were a bit slow because the real action does not start until Marian goes back in time. Once in the past, all kinds of trouble ensues and the action picks up and I had a hard time putting the book down. I also enjoyed the blend of real history with fiction. The plot worked very nicely with the time period.
I loved the characters of William and Marian. William is the essence of a valiant, gentlemanly knight. The fact that the tragedies in his life so far had shaped him into the man is was made for a relatable character. Marian’s character worked well in the story also. She had just the right amount of bravery, mixed with femininity, to draw William in. Too strong of a character would not have worked in this book. The author did a good job of fashioning someone who fit both time periods.
There was a little bit of everything in the tale and a lot to love about it. I recommend this one for lovers of romance with a twist. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.