Sunday, August 19, 2012

Review - Timeless Desire, An Outlander Love Story


Timeless Desire, An Outlander Love Story
Gwyn Cready
Astor+Blue Editions
August 2012

Two years after devastating loss of her husband, librarian Pandora (Panna) Kennedy devotes all her time to her library. With an impending budget cut, she is desperate to find some way to save the jobs and the institution. As she considers what could be sold to ease the budget crunch, she remembers tales of a lost treasure buried in the library. Then she finds a small, pad-locked door and finds herself transported to the magnificent, book-filled quarters of a handsome, eighteenth-century Englishman. The same man whose statute stands near her library desk--Colonel John Bridgewater.

However, Bridgewater's life is far from what she imagined. He's under guard on suspicion of treason. But with her sudden appearance, John considers her a whore at best and a spy sent to deceive him at worst. Panna is understandably insulted and returns to her own time, but like women throughout the ages, she's not willing to give him the last word and immediately returns.

Despite her suspicious appearance and impetuous manner, Bridgewater warms to Panna. She, in turn, learns about the man, not the hero mentioned in history books. What she learns draws her to him as she's not been drawn by any man since her late husband's death. That he is a hero is without question but is he, indeed, working against England? Is she willing to help him? More important, is she willing to risk her heart by falling in love again?

While elements in the book reminded me of another famous 'Outlander' book, it is a unique and original read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the descriptions and the plot. The witty, double-entendres are delightful and fun. The slowly built passion between Panna and John is breathtaking and the plot twists are chilling. All in all, this is masterfully written and a damn good read.

It's the first book I've read by Gwyn Cready but it won't be the last. I highly recommend it.

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