🩺Pub Day Review! 📿
In This Moment
By: Gabrielle Meyer
Published: May 2, 2023
Publisher: Bethany House
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#qotd : What was your favorite read from April?

Super big thank you to @bethanyhousefiction for my copy of the book! It was my first as an official Bethany Reviewer. I can't wait for the next!

Synopsis: "Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.
In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of a senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she joins a hospital ship going to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon.
While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer. With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?"

🩺 The concept of this book really intrigued me when I was deciding what books to choose for this quarter. It did not disappoint. The three different timelines were easy to follow, and each story was told so well. I had no idea which path she would choose or what I would have done in her situation.
While this did mention it was the 2nd in the series, I had no problem following along, as though it could be a standalone as well. I definitely want to go back and read the first one now, though.
A sweet, historical romance I highly suggest you check out!

#bethanyhousefiction #netgalley #netgalleyreview #inthismoment #gabriellemeyer #series #bookseries #historicalfiction #christianfiction #cleanromance #timetravel #timetravelnovel #Tuesday #tuesdayfeature

In a Nutshell: A worthy second book in the Timeless series. The focus is slightly more on romance this time around, which is why it didn’t work as the first book well for me. But it’s still an imaginative work. Better if read in order, though this can be tried as a standalone.

Story Synopsis:
Thanks to her time-crossing parents. Maggie is born with the special ability of living three lives simultaneously – in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, when she goes to sleep in one period, she wakes up in the next one, without losing any time in the earlier life.
In 1861, the country lies at the brink of the Civil War and Maggie is forced to assist her senator dad at hosting parties rather than help the wounded soldiers.
In 1941, she is a naval nurse, struggling with her knowledge of what’s going to happen in Pearl Harbor at the end of the year.
In 2001, she is an overachieving medical student, trying to fulfil her dream of becoming a surgeon at least in one timeline.
Maggie knows that once she turns twenty-one, she will have to choose one of these lives, forfeiting the other two forever. But with beloved ones, plenty of medical challenges, and a romantic interest in each life, how on earth is Maggie to choose?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Maggie.

I had been blown away by ‘When the Day Comes’, the first book of this series, when I read it in May last year and spent the whole year waiting for this sequel. While it didn’t work as well as the first one for me, I still enjoyed it tremendously.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Yet again, the author’s imagination won me over. Three physical bodies, one unified mind? A girl who can live simultaneous lives in three distinct times? And we the readers can read this without any difficulty in accepting the complicated concept because there seem to be no loopholes in logic? And nothing feels exaggerated in the time-slip aspects? What impressive creativity and writing!
😍 Imagine writing three historical timelines with perfect attention to detail in each. All the three years of Maggie’s time-crossing life come alive in terms of their atmosphere and character detailing. Brava, author! Loved the historical research and accuracy.
😍 Luckily for me, this time around, I was far better equipped with the historical knowledge needed to grasp the plot better, because the American Civil War, WWII & Pearl Harbor, and 9/11 are all events I know pretty well about. So the historical content was easier for me to comprehend. (This of course won’t be an issue to US readers.)
😍 Maggie is quite intent on being a healer, and this manifests well in all three timelines, despite the vast difference in their medical knowhow. Her struggles on using the knowledge from the modern timelines in the historical ones come out well. Through Maggie’s medical interests, the book also highlights how the role of women changed in the field of medicine over the years.
😍 The book covers multiple genres, though it is a historical fiction at heart. The timeslip elements bring in a sort of magical realism to the flow, and there’s also romance. Mixed genre books are always more fun to read.
😍 The book is also marked as ‘Christian Fiction’, and this shows in the regular faith-based thoughts that Maggie has when she asks for divine guidance in helping her choose the right timeline, and also when she tries to understand why God isn’t giving her what she most wants. Though the faith elements were greater in intensity this time, I appreciate how they were genuinely interwoven into the plot as a moral compass for Maggie rather than being too preachy or simply throwing in biblical verses in the plot.
(That said, I feel I should point out that there are many romantic kissing scenes between unmarried couples in this book, which some Christian readers don’t prefer in this genre. I was okay with these; they were not vulgar at least to my eyes.)
😍 Despite the length of the book, it is quite fast-paced and contains very little rambling. I didn’t feel like I was reading a 410+ page book at all.
😍 There were some interesting secondary characters in the story, though they don’t get much page space because of the extensiveness of Maggie’s three lives. It was nice to see Libby and her family getting some focus. Of the three love interests, two are written well.
😍 The ending is amazing. I love how the author manages to tie everything together neatly despite there being so many complicated subparts in each tale.
(Also, I did NOT see that ending coming! Is it indicating a possible continuation to the series? I sure hope so!)
😍 Don’t miss the author’s note at the end, detailing the factual elements of the plot and where she took liberty with the facts. I adore authors making such efforts to present to us a clear picture of the accuracy of the historical content.

Bookish Nays:
😕 Unlike in the first book, the stories across the timelines seemed quite similar. Maggie’s social and financial status is the same in all three, as is her interest in medicine. All three years have characters somehow connected to politics and other topics of national interest. All three have a man entering Maggie’s life on the same day, with her spending a great deal of the book wondering whom she likes best. In other words, though the historical situation was vastly different, the basic plot across the three years felt the same. This was the biggest reason why this sequel didn’t work for me as much as the first one did, because the first had not only two distinct time periods (with no overlap of themes) but also distinct financial situations. (Libby being wealthy in one and poor in the other.)
😕 Again, unlike the first book, romance gets the central focus this time, with Maggie’s interest in medicine coming a close second. I would have preferred it the other way around, though readers who enjoy romance stories will enjoy the love triangle. (Or should it be called “love quadrilateral” because there are three guys and one girl?)
😕 Unlike Libby in the first book, Maggie has a confident go-getter personality. But she still didn’t endear me as much as Libby did, partly because of how confused she was over the three guys, and partly because her track didn’t have multiple layers. It was just love and medicine. The themes were better explored in the first book.
😕 I didn’t understand why Maggie’s parents in the 2001 timeline, who are modern in every other way, were so insistent on seeing her in a relationship. She was just twenty! This angle made sense in the other two timelines, but not for 2001.
😕 The writing gets a bit repetitive at times because of Maggie’s first person thoughts delving on the same issues again and again.
(Three of my points of criticism come from comparison. So I guess I would have enjoyed this sequel better had I not sought to replicate the high I had after reading Timeless #1.)

All in all, I did enjoy this book a lot, but I guess the first one was so exceptional that this sequel, while brilliant, felt a little bit short. Nevertheless, it is still a fine example of creative writing and historical research working in a harmonious blend. If there is indeed a third book, I am definitely on board!
Though this book can be read as a standalone, it will be far better if you read the series in order, as the details of time-crossing are better explained in the first book.

3.75 stars.

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the DRC of “In This Moment”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Christian fantasy at its best. Maggie is a time crosser, living in 1861, 1941, and 2001, witnessing some of the most significant events in America: the Civil War, World War II, and 9/11. By her 21st birthday, she must decide which path she wants to stay in. Best to read her parents’ story, When the Day Comes, first. Fun to imagine what a time crossing life would be like.

You can’t play God, Maggie. All God wanted from her was to take a step of faith.

Maggie was a time-crosser. She experienced life in three different times - 1861, 1941 and 2001 - at least this is when we meet her. Imagine all the incredible history she has been living through! Now that she is almost 21, she will have to decide which period she wants to stay in for the rest of her life. What a dilemma!

Wishing that God would tell her what to do, her parents remind her that she does not need to make this harder than it needs to be. She will have to decide who she feels she cannot live without. Her passion to fix all that is hurting finally brings her to the point of realizing that she has to let go and trust God. But is she prepared to do that?

This early copy of Timeless - 2 was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

This is my favorite book yet this year! I loved the creative Christian tale with rotating timelines that left me breathless. I got invested in Maggie's life in each period, her family and friends, and, especially, her romances, as time ticks quickly by, leading to her daunting choice of the life she'll inhabit and the man she'll marry. Highly recommended!

As soon as I finished reading When the Day Comes last year, I opened the web browser on my phone and tried to find the release date of this book, the second in the series. I could not wait to find out what happened next—Meyer threw in a plot twist at the end of that book that I didn’t see coming, and I was excited to learn more. I was more than a little disappointed that I had to wait another year to get to read this, but it was worth the wait.

What a delightful story! I was concerned that with three different time periods to write about, one or another wouldn’t be as strong as the rest. But Meyer pulled it off beautifully. From the beginning of the story, I was never confused as to which time I was in, and each got the attention to detail it deserved. Honestly, I can’t imagine the sheer amount of research that went into this book, but it was brilliantly done! The only time I wasn’t feeling immersed in the particular time period was when I was worried about what was about to happen on a different path (and yes, there were a few of those moments), but even so, Meyer made me care about each time, and all the characters associated with each one, and I loved that.

The characters were delightful. I think one of my favorites was Delilah. She was hilarious!

I feel like I can’t say more, for fear I’ll give away spoilers, but if you enjoy historical fiction and sweet romance, this book (and its prequel) would likely be right up your alley. I couldn’t put it down once I got into it (I read for almost three hours straight one day, and the next day, wiped out an entire morning reading just so I could finish it!), and I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

A time travelling saga.
The main character has 3 distinctive lives - Margaret in 1861, Maggie in 1941 & Meg in 2001.
The book also felt like three dramas in one, as each era focused on a major change in American history - making the history come alive.
Loved how it was written in the first person perspective, showing how Margaret & Maggie faced ethical dilemmas because as a time traveller she knows the future, but can’t change history as there will be dire consequences.
Writing in the first person also made it more honest and real.
The twist comes when she turns 21 and must choose just one life she wants continue living in, made all more harder by the relationships and romantic liaisons she has made in each life.
Beautifully written and well researched, but personally found the time switching a bit jumpy and confusing.
Perfect read for any historical fiction fan.
Thanks @meyergabrielle @bethany_house & @netgalley for the eARC

In This Moment is a wonderful addition to Gabrielle Meyer's Timeless series. I loved every single page and am giving it five stars.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
Meyer is back in this time-crossing story that was just as sweet as the first one. I started unsure of how three timelines would go, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well they worked. She anchored each in a significant year, so it was easy for me to keep the details straight. The families and friends were also genuine and unique, and I had no problem keeping each straight. Maggie was a woman dealing with so much. She lived in 1861, 1941, and 2001. I liked how the author explored the aspect of doing what God called her to do in each timeline. I also liked how she relied on her faith to help her make the decision of what path to stay in. Meyer also created such good suspense that I wasn't sure how Maggie would choose and could really empathize with her impending decision. This series is so good, and I recommend reading these in order.

Wow, wow, WOW! I didn't know if this book could live up to everything I felt from book 1 of this series, When the Day Comes.

I could not have been more wrong.

Gabrielle Meyer's writing is consistent, poignant and incredibly engaging. I feel like "can't put this book down" feeling quite a bit with how much I read, but this was a legit moment of I cannot read this book fast enough.

Before reading any further (no spoilers), but make sure you read book 1 of this series before this one.

Maggie is such a favorite character of mine. Everything she felt the writer passed on to the reader and it was an incredible reading experience. I felt the highs, the lows and everything in between.

What I loved about this book was Maggie's struggle to find the right answer. Which life path should she choose? The writer does an amazing job of showing the pros and cons to each path. I loved the setting for each life path and how they corresponded with the others. The attention to detail of pivotal historical events was an eye opening experience and I loved the patriotism I felt from this book.

'...if I know anything about the heart and soul of America, it's that no matter what she faces, she has courage and resolve to get back up and keep fighting.'

I loved the Christian elements woven throughout. I loved seeing Maggie go through every feeling with what life had brought her. I loved seeing the fight, the struggle. Her entire journey through this book was inspiring.

I want to give this book a million stars. It deserves no less.

Thanks to the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Content/Trigger: Mild depictions of war and battles and other historic events. Medical injuries with mild descriptions. Death of loved ones. Mild suspense. Christian beliefs. Family relationships. Love triangle. Kissing. You wont get any of your to-do's done in real life because you'll be busy reading :)

'In This Moment' is the secind book in the 'Timeless' series but reads as a standalone. It follows Maggie who lives three different lives in three different time periods and it is wonderful to read! I enjoyed alk the timr periods and felt like Maggie belonged in each path!
Thus boom is well-written, thought out and engaging. The romance and war episodes are well done wilthout being overly dramatic or cliche. There is also a nice patriotic, God is in control, undertone that I really enjoyed. Nicely set up for a book 3! Fingers crossed!

Remarkable! This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

Time-crossing storylines have captured my imagination for years. Many authors use a particular item as a conduit for time travel, but I find Ms. Meyer's use of a unique gift to be purely original.

Maggie has been born with the gift to live in three different timelines simultaneously, waking each day in a different time, alternating between each. Her life with each family is fulfilling, yet at the age of twenty-one she will need to choose in which life she will remain.

As Maggie traverses between three crucial moments in American history, her individual 'lives' are woven into one, one that is a remarkable story of courage and sacrifice. I immediately became invested in Maggie's lives, each filled with purpose and family that she loves.

I fell in love with the first book in this series, but found myself more invested in Maggie's story and captivated by the choice she faced, wondering which life she would choose. I love how the author includes a faith message of relying on God and seeking HIs will for one's life.

I fell in love with Ms. Meyer's writing style and look forward to reading more of her books.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved When the Day Comes so much that I couldn’t wait to dive into book 2. While I was excited to read this story, I wondered how this story would unfold with 3 timelines. Well, let’s just say there was no cause for my concern. Gabrielle completely surpassed my hopes and expectations! Maggie (also known as Meg and Margaret in her other timelines) lives in 3 very different time periods with 3 different families, yet in each one, she is motivated by her desire to serve and heal people.

I will not give any spoilers but I will say that just when I thought I had figured out how events would unfold, I was surprised. Just when I had decided which timeline Maggie would choose, I was surprised. In the end, the timeline I hoped she would choose was the one she ended up in. But true to the talented storytelling of the author, there were more surprises to come.

This is a beautifully written story - we watch Maggie’s character grow as she learns more about herself, her purpose in each timeline, and ultimately how to trust God. There were some very emotional moments - moments that I had to take some time to recover from before I could move on. But I loved every single minute of reading this story. While I finished the book, the characters and their stories have found a place in my heart. I cannot stop thinking about them. And with the nice little twist at the end, I cannot wait to read the next story.

Thank you Gabrielle for such a compelling and emotional journey. I am definitely ready to take the next one with you.

I received an early copy for review. The comments and opinions expressed are my own.

*Book Blurb : Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.
In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.
While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.*

One of my favorite books so far this year! I adored the first book and was so excited for this second one on the series. In each time period Maggie has a different life with completely different families and situations. You can tell that a lot of research has been done because each time period is immersive in how they act, dress, eat, and speak. With Maggie learning to be a doctor 2001 when she wakes up in 1861 and 1941 she has to limit herself when she helps people because medical knowledge or inventions hadn't come yet. And to know what's going to happen in history but she can't change anything without forfeiting that time period. Maggie has to make so many choices. Which time period will she choose when she has three families she loves and three men she has feeling for. It made me wonder what I'd choose. A lot of great faith content. With Maggie praying and trying to understand God's will. Highly recommend!

I received a complimetry copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own,

Gabrielle Meyer has done it again! When the Day Comes was one of my top favorite books of 2022 and In This Moment will be at the top of the list for 2023.
If you loved Libbie and her story, you will love her daughter Maggie.

“Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?”
Once again, Gabrielle Meyer has written a story that is captivating, entertaining and engaging. Many applicable life lessons and words of wisdom are woven into the storyline. Words that apply to today. One of my favorite lines from this book is…
"Life is a gift and an adventure. We should never let fear hold us back from doing the things God has called us to do. The risk isn't always in going, sometimes the risk is in staying and missing out on the journey."

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinion is my own.
You can pre-order In This Moment from https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/4...

More than anything, this book fascinated me so much.

This is the first story about time-crossers that I have read and it was quite interesting, intriguing and fascinating.
I loved the author's story telling style. I loved how she wrote about history. I loved how she wrote about 3 time periods so distinct from each other in a way that was so enjoyable and not tasking to read.

Lovers of history, romance would love this book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion

I didn't thinks she could top when the day comes but Gabrielle Meyer just blew my exceptions out of the water.

First things first, You HAVE to read When the Day Comes first, no exceptions. Secondly, because I think this book is best gone into blind I wont be talking much about the plot because you deserve to go in FRESH.

This is a book that delves through multiple time important but tragic time periods in history. The time traveling concept felt just as unique as it did in the first book but just got better. I absolutely was invested in SO many of these characters, and anxious that everything would not come together as I hoped it would.

As much as I worried and over analyzed and changed who I wanted to be with Maggie to end up with. I think everything resolved itself EXACTLY as it ought to but I don't think i've had this much anxiety over possible relationships since Daughter of the Moon Goddess. BUT the end game is so very worth it.

This is a book about faith, and as much of us can't relate to time travel crisis' I think the parallels to life in general remain true. Sometimes we want SO badly for God to lead us down a path when he wants us to have faith in our own power to move towards our destiny. I think faith in the process is sometimes the hardest type of faith to have.

This story is a beautiful journey of discovery of what makes us US and how God plays into each of our stories...AND of course there is a lot of love...romantic and familial along the way. I swooned, I cried, and I felt very connected to Maggies story and her romantic possibilities. Once again...so freaking good, I absolutely devoured this.

I was worried that maybe this book wouldn’t live up to the first, or would be too similar, but boy was wrong! This book was fantastic! I loved it just as much as the first and I was surprised with every turn it took. The idea of a time-crossers is so fascinating to me! I wish I could be one! This series is so unique and I love bits of history that make these books so real! I hope for more in this series 😊

I have been waiting to read In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer since reading the last word of the series’ first book, When the Day Comes. Let me just say this, it was totally worth the wait and I’m anxiously awaiting the next book! Please tell me there’s a next book!

There are so many things I want to say about this story - or should I say these stories? I thought three timelines might get confusing or that I would be unsatisfied at the end because of the timeline Maggie chose, but that was not the case! I loved all three of the timelines! There are so many plot points I want to talk about, but I can’t, because they would all be massive spoilers. What I can say is that I was flipping the pages as fast as I could because I needed to get to the end to find out which path Maggie chose, but at the same time, I did not want this book to end. I was thoroughly engaged in this story from the first page and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was wrong.

I am really really hoping there will be another story in this series. With this series, Gabrielle Meyer has become an auto buy author for me! Do not miss this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light. 5 stars!!

In This Moment is one of the most unique stories I’ve read. I don’t read a lot of time travel, but every now and then I like to venture out to a new-to-me or rare-for-me genre. I loved it.

Maggie is well developed. She’s a fascinating character who must make a difficult decision. I can’t imagine living in three different times, gaining knowledge, and forming relationships, and then having to choose. (Though I’ve had those thoughts of how I would’ve done things differently if I “knew then what I know now.”) You’d think I would’ve had a preference of which period Maggie should chose, but it was complicated.

This story fascinated, stunned, surprised, and wowed me. It holds strong spiritual elements, wonderful storytelling, and a touching message.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.