Come Back To Me By Jody Hedlund

come back to me

by Jody Hedlund

Publisher: Revell

Series: Waters of Time

ISBN: 9780800738433

I am thrilled to have been chosen to be on the launch team for the first book in Jody Hedlund's new series Waters of Time. I jumped in knowing nothing about the book other than time travel was involved! I enjoy the author's writing enough to not know a single thing about a story and want to read whatever she wrote! I was sent the book for review.

Summary:

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to? 

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

My Review:

This. Book. Was. Excellent!

I had NO clue what to expect from Come Back to Me other than it was time travel. The cover called my name when the opportunity to join the launch team came up, and I had to respond! I think the cover alone will be a favorite of 2021, but will rank up there as one of my top favorites period.

Jody Hedlund is a prolific writer and I think she could write about a sack of potatoes and it would come out amazing. This time she sends us back to 1381 and you need to join us on this adventure.

We meet Marian who is just your everyday, ordinary research scientist whose mom has passed away, her sister is very sick, and her father is in a coma. No big deal other than the fact that there are so many things wrong with the scenario Marian can't help but try to figure out what's going on.

I really liked her character. Marian is caring yet strong willed; thoughtful yet a force of nature; loving yet determined. This all helps her start to put the pieces together of what her father was working on in England. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse and those pieces start to come together and people start getting hurt.

I loved how the author seamlessly wove the future into the past and brought Marian there to get answers. Leading up to it made my heart start to race. Oh my goodness, I knew I was going to love this story.

And then there's William Durham. You could easily feel the same appreciation Marian had for him as she gazed upon him and then as she got to know him. I mean, imagine a knight in fine fighting form in 1381. Their quick acquaintance leads to a situation neither expected!

Now let me tell you something. If you want romance, to feel it in a palpable way, to feel like you need to find a fan to cool yourself down, but in a way that doesn't cross lines... do. not. miss. this. book. Oh heavens to Betsy, the author outdid herself with Will and Marian's story. Is it cheesy to feel like their love was timeless? And it wasn't really instantaneous. Those tropes annoy the life out of me. No, this was different. There was this connection that you just knew. It wasn't contrived. It wasn't forced. It WAS a force!

Now, I felt for Marian as she was a 21st Century gal who likes her modern conveniences! In 1381, there were nowhere to be found. But, she had to find ways to communicate with the present because she kept having moments where she would come back to the "now" and then slip back to the past. What her father had learned, and she had now learned could be world altering. So many choices to make, but what would be the right one?

I have NO clue what book 2 will be like, but I hope we get to be with Will and Marian again!

About the Author:

Jody Hedlund (www.jodyhedlund.com) is the bestselling author of over 30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She loves to imagine that she really can visit the past, although she's yet to accomplish the feat, except via the many books she reads.