Wowsers! I enjoy a good time travel book and this one was very satisfying! Very cleverly written and convincing idea. The beginning took me a little bit to fully connect with the story. The scene needed to be set but once that first time jump (my word for it) happened, oh my heavens! Marian seeing William Durham for the first time. And vice versa. Him seeing her. I couldn't wait for more time jumps.

Marian's reaction upon hearing about her father and her need to help him, sets in motion a lot more than she initially bargained for. Buckle up for this fun ride because it is awesome!

The contemporary aspects were well written and the suspense in them of trying to figure out what is happening as well as who is behind some of the problems. Then the history that is mixed in and spoken of in the contemporary moments and then jumping back to the past with some of those historical tidbits. So well woven together. I know I said it was a little slow at first for me, but after all the initial important info was divulged and the time jump happened, the flow of the story was great!

Now I'll be patiently waiting for the second book in this series. Oh. My. Heavens!!! I can only imagine what might happen in that one. Will we get to see more of Marian and William??? Please, please, please Ms. Hedlund say that we will!!!

Content: Clean. Time travel aspects, some moments of peril due to jumping back into the Middle Ages. Death, and some attacks occuring in the current time, but nothing overly graphic. There is talk between a married couple about being intimate but there is nothing more than kisses and them laying in bed snuggling. Everything else fades to black.

I received a copy from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Well this takes a marriage of convenience to the next level! 😳🔥 IYKYK. Hottie Will, Brave Marian...danger, action, romance, time travel....what more can you ask for? 😘

Some quick thoughts: this one started off really slow for me - if I had not seen rave reviews for this book, I would have passed on it based on the very beginning. But it picked up quickly and I ended up enjoying it!

I've always wanted to read Outlander but haven't due to content warnings from trusted friends, so this felt like a way to still get that experience without going against my conscience. Now I will say...even though this is a Christian novel, I would only recommend this to a mature audience due to violence and romantic content 😉

While not usually a fan of time-travel books, I knew that I needed to read this because it’s written by Jody Hedlund and what an engaging read it was. It’s one of those books that kept me glued to my kindle; she’s woven an amazing story around the Peasant Revolt in 1381 as well as a woman’s quest to find the healing holy water from that era in order to heal her sister’s serious illness. Full of rich history, I found Marian’s travel between present-time Boston and 1380’s Canterbury, England totally captivating and a little mind-boggling. Hard to label this book – medical thriller, historical fiction, steamy romance? I can’t wait for the sequel!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review.

This is my first Hedlund novel and judging by other reviewers this is a bit of a step away from her usual stories. Well, I certainly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the sequel.

Time travel is always fun to read and Hedlund did a good job outlining how one travels from one era to another: modern England back to 1381 England. Hedlund gives us a fabulous view of the 1300s and the Peasant Revolt which Marian Creighton arrived in the middle of. As Marian, like us, is familiar with the current times, we're all given a great education into the vast differences of medieval Canterbury. It was captivating to read.

The story actually has a great deal of suspense too which kept me turning pages. Will Marian find the source of the holy water and sufficient ampullae so she can both return to current times and heal her sister? The Peasant Revolt adds another layer of suspense plus a good dollop of fear with the cruelty of the leaders being ever present.

But perhaps what I reflect most on is the romance between Marian and Will Burnham. It's really delightful to read. His chivalry, her strength of character and his willingness to allow Marian to be herself was good to read. The sensuality between the two is well written too. I suspect there'll be some readers who'll think it too much but I actually thought it added to the realism of the story and to its suspense. Will Marian and Will's love be allowed to flourish or will Marian return to the future and be forever wondering what if?

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm keen to read the followup to see what happens next.

I received an early complimentary ebook copy as part of the Revell Reads blogger program via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

Thank you to Baker Publishing Group and Netgalley for making this book available to me. My thoughts are my own.

Time travel. An intriguing theme that requires extensive research and a solid story to be cohesive. Jody Hedlund jumps on the time travel train in her newly released novel Come Back to Me (out June 1, 2021). Before I review this title, I would like to say that this is my second Hedlund title, the first being The Preacher's Bride, one I highly recommend.

I've read several time travel books and series, and for the most part, none of them has ever overlapped with construction, eras or themes. Every one has been unique in presentation, and I find Hedlund's interpretation of time travel fascinating. It reminds me of the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeves, based on Richard Matheson's Bid Time Return (1975). It's the first novel that I have read where I've had this impression, so I'd say that rocks!

Marketed as a Christian novel and published by a Christian publishing house, Come Back to Me plays with the supernatural without falling into witchcraft. I appreciate how Hedlund ties in the "tree of life" and the many theories surrounding the tree of life's transportation from the Garden of Eden. In fact, Hedlund speaks about this in her Author's Note at the end of the novel.

Additionally, Hedlund remarks on her research of the year 1381. Again, extensive research plays well for those writing historical fiction. I am amazed at the amount of research required, since as a burgeoning author myself, I feel overwhelmed at the thought of the time required to do so.

Overall, Hedlund's novel reads like a dream (irony intended). While the build up to time travel seemed lone while first diving in, I see the value of building up the story now that I have finished.

If any criticism, I figured out the villain pretty early on, and I wish this element had been more surprising.

Like I already expressed, Come Back to Me plays with time travel like Somewhere in Time does. Time travelers find themselves in a dreamlike state in modern time while their consciousnesses are bound in another. It works well, and Hedlund succeeds at writing an engaging story. Characters are well-written; plot runs smoothly. I find my curiosity rising to learn more about Harrison, an enigma of a character who seems out of the past. I'll have to wait until 2022 to read more about him in Hedlund's sequel Never Leave Me.

Like The Preacher's Bride, Come Back to Me shows Hedlund's strength as a writer of strong historical fiction.

I highly recommend this book with the understanding that the build up takes time. Once into the story, it moves quickly. Definitely a read to stay up all night for!

I love all of Hedlund’s books and always look forward to the next one…..Yet this one is sooo different. I really don’t have adequate words for this review. It is a time travel, which I confess is not my favorite type of novel. This one is puzzling and intriguing with a mystery also. An unexpected romance with a unique ending. Very strong characters male and female. The two story lines, present and in the 1300’s England were so different yet intertwined. I did enjoy the description and history of that era in England. We have danger with many unanswered questions. Searching for the “tree of life” also searching for “holy water” to possibly make a person dead come back to life. This book is very interesting and different from Hedlund’s other books……..My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not required to leave a positive review. The opinion expressed here is entirely my own.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5/5
This is one of those books that you want to completely and utterly love, yet I just wish I could change a thing or two to make it ✨perfect✨.

But first of all, let me share why this book gave me a book hangover 😂❤️

I have never read a Christian time travel book. More so, I’ve never read a time travel book at all! So when the Revell offered me a review copy I was a little hesitant, to say the least. My only exposure to time travel had been through the tv show Outlander (of course, using Vidangel filters😉😌) and I just couldn’t imagine a book trying to narrate the intricacies of traveling through time.

But then, it was none other than Jody Hedlund who had written this book… and even though I had only read one of her books before, I really REALLY liked it. So I decided to give it a go.

I will speak plainly from the start, this is NOT a YA book but an Adult one. I didn’t know that when I first started reading so I didn’t expect quite some things which I will explain as I go.

First of all, the plot was superb. The way Jody mashed up the time lines was amazing. Tbh, I was a Little worried about the Holy water part and a little afraid it was going to take a dark or mystical turn. But it wasn’t like that at all!. I learned so much of the real history behind it, its legends and tales, I honestly became quite enthralled with the idea of it.

The main character, Marian, is a research scientist for a pharmaceutical company. She has poured her life and work into helping research a cure for her sister’s rare illness. Then we have her dad. Another research scientist, a genius, doing his work in London. Marian and her dad have a strained relationship but it only gets weirder when she receives an unprecedented phone call telling her that her dad, her crazy genius, wealthy and eccentric dad has fallen into a coma without explanation. That’s when Marian starts questioning everything. Who and why did this, and why are people after her dad’s research concerning time travel?

I loved the ‘’present’’ perspective! It wasn’t a cliché plot at all! We have so many unique characters and I enjoyed tremendously the fact that one of the characters represented a disabled person and he was, without doubt, one of the ones that made the book so much more interesting and fun! I’m a Harrisson fan forever lol.

Then we have the ”past” time line. I won’t mention much here because I want you to get all the feels and surprises when you start reading this book. But I will say, Jody Hedlund, did amazing research concerning that time period and I felt like a Lady of medieval times all the way through the book 😍.

I loved reading about the contrast between the past and present. Jody did an amazing job bringing that time period to life and showing us the good, the bad and the ugly. It was rich in history and adventure. I’ve probably learned more from this book alone about medieval times than from my elective medieval times college class 😂.

And the characters in the past were just AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE! That’s all I’ll say.

Having said all that, I wish to mention some things I didn’t quite like.

The romance was precious. It was honest and raw. I loved the love interest and how he did everything to make Marian happy and feel secure.

But, there were some descriptive romance scenes that kinda knocked a star from my rating.

Even though we can consider this book clean (as in there aren’t any sex scenes), intimacy is a big player in this book due to the plot and different constums of the day. We can read from the male perspective how women were seen at that time as mere objects and how desirable they were. So changing or altering that perspective wouldn’t be historically correct due to the fact that at that time, women had almost no right or say in anything.

I just want to clarify that the character growth of that male individual throughout the book was amazing. Marian, coming from a time where women have a place in society and have rights, and she, in a way, teaches this person what true love is and how to care, respect and be friends with the Woman you love. It was truly endearing.

But the romance scenes are not meant for younger audiences given the fact that they are quite descriptive. I’ll also add that due to the time period, there are some gory descriptions about violence and beheading and blood and such. Nothing crazy descriptive but nonetheless they are there.

Again, this IS an adult book, so pls have that in mind. Think Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers content level.

Wow, I didn’t think this review was going to be this lengthy 😂. If you made it here, you are amaingggg! I hope this review helps you decide if this is a good book for you!

Content: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ 3/5

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

This captivating book offers a split timeline, with people crossing into the past and connections of there to the present. Marian Creighton, a research scientist trying to find a cure for a deadly disease, is swept into this mysterious development after she finds her father in a coma. Is he simply unconscious or could he have actually traveled back in time as he claimed possible? Her attempt to follow and bring back something to revive him ends up thrusting her into danger. Can she escape the perils to return to her regular life? Plenty of surprises and twists make this a fun, suspenseful story that grasps your attention throughout. A well-crafted plot makes this novel a winner. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Most stories with time travel take a lot from you and if not executed well may not turn out so well
Jody Hedlund knocked this one out of the park honestly. I've read most of her stories and enjoyed every one of them so I was curious to see how this would work out considering it's an entirely new genre for her.
I enjoyed Will and Marianne's story. Watching her navigate this entirely new territory she found herself in. She's searching for answers because people around her are hurting. It's fun, it's engaging it's thrilling how she learns to survive the past even as a modern girl.
The romance is also beautiful. Although instant at first, the love they have for each other grows as they learn to appreciate one another.
I'm eagerly anticipating the next story in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are solely mine

This novel ripped the boundaries of my imagination! I don’t read many time travel books, but Jody Hedlund always captures me with her beautiful writing, so I gave it a go. She didn’t disappoint!

I lost myself in Marian’s world and delima of which world she belonged to. Totally heartfelt.

I’m devastated that the mystery wasn’t solved and hope it will be by the second book! I’m not sure I can survive this cliffhanger until January 2022, much less wait for a third book 😆. The open endinging prepares you for book two but since I’m impatient, I rate the ending 4 1/2 stars but the rest of the novel is 5 star all the way!!

Revell gave me this copy, but I was not required to provide a good report. These thoughts and opinions are my own!

I am a long-time fan of Jody Hedlund’s books, so when I saw that she was writing a time travel novel, I was intrigued. Time travel in general is not a plot point that draws me, though I have read some that were well done. In any case, a Hedlund novel is always going to be on my to-read list, so I’m glad I gave it a try. Though contemporary is not her usual genre, Hedlund's opening scenes in the present day to set the stage well for the rest of the story. The premise that there is holy water because of seeds from the Tree of Life is a unique take on the time travel aspect. There are still a lot of questions as to how all of the pieces fit together to make this happen, but I don’t actually need a hard core scientific explanation – it’s time travel, so I’m already suspending my belief for the fun of the plot.

England in 1381 is a harsh place for a woman, especially one alone that has no male relative to vouch for her or to take care of her. Marian realizes that she’s not going to get very far without the protection of a man, nor are her modern views on it going to matter to anyone there. The plot thickens as she comes into contact with a knight, William, and finds herself at the beginning of a peasant uprising. However, William and Marian aren’t strangers to each other, due to the precarious nature of time travel, and while neither plan on getting married, members of the revolt are only mollified once they see a ceremony. Adventure, danger, and of course, romance, abound once they are brought together, as well as some clashing as Marian learns to curtail her independent nature to fit in better. As the story progresses, Marian’s loyalties are torn, but ultimately, she does want to do the right thing no matter the personal cost. William’s belief in her rings sincere, too, and while he has his faults, he is what a noble knight should be.

I appreciated that Marian did question the ramifications of a water that appears to be able to cure any disease. While it is miraculous, it could also prove to be dangerous. I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters, Harrison and Ellen, and I’m glad to know that the second book is about them. I’m hopeful that we’ll see Marian again, too, since I assume that more time travel shenanigan are to come. Come Back to Me is an engaging, romantic, and imaginative read, and I’m looking forward to book two.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. A positive review was not required, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Fantastic! I'm always eager to read a Jody Hedlund book and this one is unique as it is the first book in her new time travel series, Waters of Time. This book allowed me to contemplate time as spoken about in the Bible and how one might be able to travel between different time periods. Very thought-provoking for me.

The book feels very suspense-ish at the beginning as Marian Creighton rushes to her Father's side in Canterbury after she receives word he is in a mysterious coma. Both Marian and her father work for a pharmaceutical company studying and developing medication. (This little aspect intrigued me as I have been more interested in these companies the past year with the pandemic. Plus the science behind all they create. ) As Marian seeks to uncover what her father has been working on, she finds herself being chased, robbed and shot at.

The book took off for me when Marian travels to 1381 in a hopes she can get some healing water that will heal her sister who suffers from a genetic disorder that already took her mother. I loved that Hedlund gave me a real sense of how it would have been to live there during this time- how women were treated, the stench, the quiet, so many historical details I may not have stopped to consider but so appreciated.

Of course, a romance is a must but will it be with William, a Knight in 1381 or Jasper, Marian's colleague in modern time?

As with most Hedlund books I had historical events to research during and after my reading. I love that she makes these events come alive! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical, romance or time travel novels.

Thank you to Jody Hedlund and Revell for a complementary copy of the book. I was not required to write a review and all thoughts are my own.

This was very different from what I have read from this author, but I enjoyed it very much. Time travel books are hard to do and I felt the author gave it the validity it needed to become a great storyline. Marian and William's characters were easy to like as well. I can't wait to read the next installment about her sister Ellen!

I am still in amazement of this book and the fantastic world that Jody Hedlund has created! This is definitely a “stay up late, can’t put it down” book.
Hedlund has taken a genre that is not done as often in Christian fiction and has done a fantastic job. From the opening chapter to the final, leave me longing for more chapter, I didn’t want to stop reading. I was thrilled when I read in the back that there will be a second book that touches on some of the semi-main characters! Can’t wait for the next book!!

When I read a Hedlund book its either a hit or a miss. This one, for me, was an amazing hit. I really wasn't sure what to expect from the time-traveling aspect, but it is written beautifully and while this scenario would no work in real life and some of the details about things appearing/disappearing didn't make since to me, the whole story was woven intricately together. It was descriptive in a few areas, but more about thoughts, not actions. Where actions are concerned the book was PG.

I think it was a wonderful book and cannot wait to read the next in the series.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Have you ever picked up a book without reading the back cover simply because of the author's name on the front? This is what happened to me with Come Back To Me. I have read several historical fiction books by Jody Hedlund and am always impressed, and so when I saw this gorgeous cover, I grabbed with without a second thought.

Boy, was I in for a surprise!

Come Back To Me is unlike anything I'd seen from her in the past... with a time travel plot that I certainly was not expecting. That said, I'm still very much glad that I picked it up. While different than what I'd come to expect from her as far as genres went, it was still every bit as well written as I'd come to expect. The characters were very well written and I found myself immediately drawn into their story. And the premise behind the book was truly unique and had me wondering what would happen next.

While I don't truly dislike time travel novels, they aren't ones that I usually pick up all that often either, but I found this one to be a delightful surprise. Fans of time travel romance are sure to enjoy this one, but even if you're not, it's certainly worth giving a chance either way. It might just surprise you too!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Come back to Me by Jody Hedlund

This was a great read and start to a series. Full of good pacing and drama with lots of ups and downs that will leave a reader turning pages well into the night. The premise is sometimes hard to believe as time travel sometimes can be, but there were supporting reasons and the reader wasn’t left to simply make their own assumptions. The book also expertly sets the reader up to look forward to the next installment. The time period Marian travels back to is the Middle Ages and the author manages to make it romantic while also showing the reader the turmoil of everyday living.

Romance: lots of desirous thoughts and touches as this is a male character from the Middle Ages so it makes sense. The author does a good job of weaving in his macho-ness with Marian’s ‘independent woman’ mentality for a good balance. It is obvious that they desire each other.

Christianese: very light

Violence: As noted, it IS the Middle Ages, but nothing gory or outlandish that wouldn’t be found in a history book.

Could water in Canterbury have been made miraculous by seeds from the Tree of Life. Marian’s father certainly thought so, and time-traveled back to 1382 to find the source. His goal is to cure his daughter Ellen from the fatal disease that claimed his wife.
Marian has been highly critical of his obsession, but when he lapses into a coma, she follows his clues. She does her own traveling, and meets a hunky knight.
But is it wise to find a miracle cure? Already, the pharmaceutical competitors are not playing nice. In the wrong hands, this miracle water can extend the lives of evil-doers and cause unimaginable havoc. A well-imagined tale that fortunately doesn’t stray too far into “science.”
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Not what I expected at all from Christian fiction. The romance was far too graphic for my taste. I was unable to finish this book.
I was given an advanced copy by the publisher, Revell and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

Come Back to Me
by Jody Hedlund
Book 1 in the Waters of Time series
Genre: Christian Romance, Science Fiction
Rating: 5/5

"She'd never expected to fall in love with the man of her dreams in 1381."

Wow. Just wow. This book completely took me by surprise and I was up till 4am desperate to know what happened next. It is full of passion and romance with action and adventure plus time-travel. I definitely understand the comparison to Outlander but there's something so endearing about the swoon-worthy Sir William Durham and his devotion to Marian. With hints of Outlander and Somewhere in Time, the author weaves an exciting and super romantic story about a woman trying to save her sister and her father.

Research scientist, Marian Creighton, is determined to find a cure for her sister. Working for Mercer Pharmaceuticals puts her in a great position, but she knows her sister is running out of time. When her father calls her with cryptic instructions, she doesn't really put much weight into it because of his crazy theories and obsession with find the cure of all cures. When tragedy forces her to travel to Canterbury, she is determined to discover what happened to him and why someone seems to be after his research. As she follows the clues her father left her, she opens up a whole new world of time travel and decides to risk it all to save her sister and hopefully, her father.

What she experiences and finds in 1381 is not what she was expecting. When Sir William Durham comes to her rescue, she is grateful until she is forced into a marriage with him for her protection. The attraction between the two of them is immediate, but Marian must guard her heart and focus on her task to find the vials of holy water from the Tree of Life that will heal her sister. As she gets to know William, she finds that he may be feared as a knight but on the inside, he is a kind but tortured gentleman. He has his own demons to fight, but he realizes that there's something about Marian that calms him and gives him peace. What will William do to protect the woman he loves? What will Marian sacrifice for love?

"Each moment with him had been more real than if she’d been living in the present. Every sound of his breath, every touch, every beat of his pulse—everything about him was more vibrant than anything she’d known before."

The romance is strong with this one. My romantic heart could not take it. LOL. Obviously, in the beginning, all the attraction is mostly lust but as they talk and get to know each other, they fall in love. William marvels at how deeply he could fall in love with someone after his experience with his first marriage.

“He may be stubborn, milady. But he will love you to his dying breath.”

As for the science fiction and time traveling part, the theories about the Tree of Life are interesting and definitely come from history and the search for the "Fountain of Youth" and the author does a decent job of trying to explain the science and background. It's still not crystal clear the way it all works but I hope to gain more understanding when I continue reading this series (because I will definitely be reading the next books). I was definitely impressed with the author's world-building and cannot wait to read more.

Though I've said there's lot of romance and passion, this book is still a CLEAN and CHRISTIAN romance novel with aspects of science fiction and time travel in it. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Christian romance with lots of action and time-travel theories.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.