I love a duel timeline narrative, but I'm always a little skeptical when it comes to time travel. I should have known MJ Rose wouldn't disappoint me because it goes without saying that I love her books and Forgetting To Remember is no exception. She beautifully weaves the timelines in a story about love, loss, memory and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advance copy of Forgetting to Remember
by M.J. Rose in return for an honest review of the book.

It was beautifully written entailing two timelines - one in 1947 and the other in Victorian London. I have recently been to London and visited the Victoria and Albert Museum where the main character, Jeanine, was employed as Keeper of the Metalworks.

Jeanine finds herself thrown into a competition with a colleague at the V&A Museum for a display in February. While curating her display Jeanine falls back in time to the 1800's where she meets many famous artists many of whom have their work displayed in the museum. A beautiful love story enfolds between Jeanine and Ashe Lewis but also with her deceased grandparents.

This was truly a beautiful story about life, love and savoring every minute of every day.

I've read a book of M.J. Rose years ago that wasn't really for me but when I read the blurb of this book I had to read it and I was not dissapointed! This book has amazing cozy romance vibes which I'm there for! I love historical fiction and WW2 is one of my favorite periods to read about. This book was mostly set a few years after the war but the story of Jeannine was greatly influenced by the war. She is a great FMC. She is stubborn, in her 30s , a careerwoman but also a romantic at heart eventhough she doesn't think so herself. It was a pretty slow read but I loved the flow of the book. The romance part of the story started very late and that's the only thing I liked a little less but it still is an amazing story!

I really enjoy time travel books and this was no exception. I like how the author incorporated art into the story.

I am not good at reviews but if you like a time travel story then you will like this one.

Forgetting to Remember by MJ Rose

269 Pages
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Release Date: March 26, 2024

Fiction, Historical Fiction, Time Travel

It is 1947 and Mrs. Jeannine Maycroft is the Keeper of Metalworks at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her boss, Mr. Gibbons, the director of the museum, asks her to take a voluntary demotion so that Mr. Hugh Kenward can have her position now that he has returned from the war. Jeannine says no since she has more experience and has a bad history working with Hugh. He calls the two of them into his office and makes a challenge for them. Whoever makes the most successful Valentine’s Day display will have the position and the other will become head researcher.

Jeannine finds miniature eye portraits and believes they will help her win the challenge. Before she leaves the museum for the evening, she stops by her favorite painting. A man speaks to her. She was initially surprised by his presence. He claims to be Ashe Lloyd Lewis the actual painter but that is not possible. The painting was painted in 1864 and it is 1947. Jeannine does not know what is happening.

The book has a fast pace, the characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view. There are mentions of the La Lune line of women that began with the author’s book, “The Witch of Painted Sorrows.” I loved that book and did not realize there were two others in the series before this book. Looking forward to reading those two soon. If you like time travel books like the Found Things series by Paula Brackston or the Rip in Time series by Kelley Armstrong, you will enjoy reading this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four stars.
I love a good historical story. Add into that the type of romance that I'm sure most of us wish we could have and some magic realism and we are all set for a magical adventure. This was a lovely story which transported me to another time and place and showed me what the true power of love can do. I won't say much more about this except if you love history, romance and a dash of magic, then this book is for you.

Thanks you Netgalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a time travel historical romance that had a timeless love and interesting historical value. I had never heard of eye miniatures or Lover’s eyes! I was intrigued and found the story delightful. FYI, I would not consider this a clean romance but it wasn’t spicy either.
Thanks Blue Box Press via NetGalley.

Forgetting to Remember is an engaging historical romance with a time-travel element and a whisper of mystery. I found the novel a bit of a slow start but was ultimately drawn in by the mysteries, the art, and historical details. It is always nice to read a romantic story with older characters. While their instant connection might be a challenge for readers who are not fans of the instant or fated lovers trope, the chemistry between Jeannine and Ashe was real.

As a museum lover, I enjoyed learning about eye portraits and the British efforts in WWII to hide and protect artistic treasures. Despite a few flaws, this was ultimately an enjoyable story, and I would look read other novels by the author.

A good choice for readers looking for a quick, entertaining historical novel. 4 stars.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

Oh, M.J. Rose, I love your books so much. I read one on a whim a year or two ago because I liked the cover, but the magic and intrigue inside is what made me devour it. Forgetting to Remember was no exception. Rose must love all things magical - her descriptions of crystals delight me in both books I've read. The time travel in this book is spectacular and I love how it came to be. The love story was romantic and beautiful, and the family bond between Jeannine and her grandparents was lovely.

I plan to work my way back through all of M.J. Rose's works at some point. They're fantastic. Thank you so much NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an opportunity to read this book. It was phenomenal!

I have enjoyed all books by M.J. Rose, and this book is no exception. The main character of this book is Jeannine Maycroft, a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. She is set by her employer to a competition with a fellow curator to stage an exhibit on romance in order to secure a promotion . She decides to use "eye portraits" which are held in storage in the V&A. These were popular devices in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to share between lovers as a token of their affection. They were quite literally portraits of eyes. While sifting through the collection to decide which to use for her exhibit, Jeannine is suddenly transported to the Pre-Raphaelite artist era in London. She is somehow able to connect with her own grandmother and becomes friendly and stays with the most famous of the pre-raphaelites, Gabriel Rossetti. Enough of the plot, so as not to give away the wonderful experiences observed and enjoyed by Jeannine. The Maycroft women are featured in many M.J. Rose novels, and they were involved in many forms of magic throughout the centuries. Jeannine is aware of her history, but always believed she had not been blessed with their powers. Now, at last, she comes into her own. I loved this book and highly recommend it. You do not have to read Ms. Rose's previous books to enjoy this one, but I guarantee you will want to!

Do you believe it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?⁣
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I’m always transported to the most magical places in M.J. Rose’s stories… places that truly fascinate and intrigue the artist in me. They follow great wonders of the art world - from Tiffany to Cartier, through jewels heists to missing paintings - and I’m always drawn in to these compelling historical novels that weave fictional elements with real life masterpieces.⁣
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Forgetting to Remember is her most magical story I’ve read so far. It’s a time travel romance that unearths the mystery of a Lover’s Eye painting of the past and a stolen piece of art in the present. The connections are woven through time and place and follow a woman in 1947 fighting to save the career she deserves, while trying to also hold on to the man she loves… a man who lived almost 100 years before.⁣
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Deeply immersed in this beautiful story from the very start through rich detail and heartbreaking storytelling, I was consumed in the mystery and the magic with every word.

the time travel and magical realism elements were *chefs kiss* I loved the mystery surrounding the miniatures and how Jeannine discovered details about them. I like how the romance was more instant connection and while the feelings did develop fast it didn’t fell like an instant love. Jeannine was aware that any changes or information she revealed while in the past could affect the future and I liked how careful she was. There were some emotional moments and I really loved Jeannine’s grandmother. It was a great mix of historical and romance genres.

Thanks @getredprbooks @mjroseauthor @1001darknights_blueboxpress for the gifted copy

I enjoyed this time travel story and fell I. Love with the characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and opinions are mine exclusively.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book when I started it but I truly fell in love with it. The details, the vocabulary, the richness - it’s all so incredible and the kind of thing that really makes a historical fiction work. Now the romance! Wheeew. Ashe is a top 5 MMC for me. He was written so well, so was the rest of the romance (literally breathtaking). The heroine was so likeable and easy to follow and all the other details in the story lined up so well. The foreshadowing was so gorgeous and well done. The ending broke me but not as bad as I thought and it was also so beautiful and happy - I didn’t expect it but I love it. The cover was also soo beautiful. This is my first story by MJ rose and I will definitely keep and eye out for more of her stories in the future. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a whileee. —— thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍

Forgetting To Remember
By: M. J. Rose

5 Stars

While working in the museum one night, Jeannine finds herself in a bit of a time slip. From the war torn London of 1947 to the slower and more dangerous streets of 1867, she finds herself on a journey across that will forever change her.

This was such an easy book to love. The story it told was amazing. It was captivating and magical from start to finish. It had romance and time travel. It showed the harsh realities of war and loss while also providing the reader a story of love and hope. It was well written and beautiful to read. The characters were so easy to love and the history that is seeped throughout was well well researched and made me want to learn more. It made me want to learn about history, art, and all the mysteries and magic that it has to offer.

I absolutely loved this story and can't wait to tell others about it. If you love romance and history with bits of drama this is the book for you. Simply, it's a masterpiece all its own and my favorite book I have read in a long time.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

Forgetting to Remember is a blend of historical romance and magical realism that evokes a variety of emotions from the reader. Following Jeanine Maycroft from her job at an Art museum in London in the 1940s to the life of an Artist in the 1860s, M.J. Rose introduces a number of characters ranging from friends/family to a captivating stranger. Enchanted from the beginning, I felt a connection to each character despite the length of time spent with them and loved being in a historical setting without the anxiety of conflict. Selfishly I wanted a slightly different ending, but I really enjoyed this book overall.

This book is perfect for fans of low conflict historical romance, time travel, or magical realism.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Forgetting to Remember was a fantastic time-travel magical romance. I feel like this book had everything I needed in a novel. The characters were interesting and complex, it was set just after WW2, it had magic, it had romance...Oh my goodness, what a ride. I hadn't read anything by M.J. Rose before (that I know of), but now I want to check out everything else they wrote.

I was happy that the plot was laid out so well and it was really clear when our main character Jeannine ends up back in the past. She is the Keeper of Metal Works at an art museum and when she enters a contest to create a special exhibit for Valentine's Day she remember some "lovers' eyes" in the basement. Artists would paint a picture of a person's eye and then put it in a brooch or ring. It was a good way to keep the person close to you without anyone knowing he they were. It turns out Jeannine discovers more than she ever expected.

It was definitely a 5 star read for me. I couldn't put it down and it led me to an interesting part of art history that I had never heard about before. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read it. This was my honest review.

MJ Rose is one of my go-to authors when I’m looking for incredible storytelling with a pleasing blend of history and romance. As an added benefit, she throws in some time-travel here, adding yet another dimension to her already gorgeous descriptive narrative and imaginative plot.

I can’t say much more about this captivating author except go get her books and immerse yourself in her worlds. This one can be read as a stand-alone, so start here by all means, then get the rest of her work from the library.

Recommended.

Forgetting to Remember by M.J. Rose is a captivating time-traveling historical romance that enchants readers from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II London and the 19th-century art world, the novel follows Jeannine Maycroft, a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, whose discovery of a mysterious brooch propels her into a whirlwind adventure through time. As Jeannine navigates the complexities of love and duty across two different centuries, she forms a deep and passionate bond with Ashe Lloyd Lewis, an artist from the past. Through Rose's exquisite prose and masterful storytelling, Forgetting to Remember weaves together history, romance, and magic in a way that captivates the heart and soul, leaving readers longing for more.

Forgetting to Remember was an intriguing time-slip romance/mystery novel that I could not put down.

In 1947 Jeannine Maycroft is a widow, working at the V&A museum as the Keeper of Metalworks, the only female keeper of the time period. She is also a member of an illustrious family, a descendant of La Lune a 16th century courtesan with magical powers. All the descendants of La Lune have some sort of magical power except for Jeannine, or so she thinks. Jeannine’s boss Mr Gibbons tells her that she is iin danger of losing her job to an old co=worker Hugh Kenward, back from the War as a War hero and wanting a place at the V&A . Jeannine and Hugh have a romantic history that ended badly and Jeannine does not want to lose her job to him. Mr. Gibbons gives them a contest to have the best Valentine’s Day exhibition with the winner having the title and job of Keeper of Metalworks. Jeannine decides to do an exhibition of miniature eye portraits, a form of love token that was popular in the 18th and 19th century, with one of the most famous ones a portrait Marie Antoinette had created for her lover Axel Fersen, though that eye is missing. While currating the exhibition Jeannine comes across an eye portrait that she is drawn to, when she accidentally pricks herself with the portrait she is transported to 1867 and into the life of her favorite Pre-Raphelite artist Ashe Lloyd Lewis. Jeannine has found her magic, she can time travel, she falls in love with Ashe, but she knows he tragically is killed in a fire in his studo in 1868, can she tell him of his fate or would changing his fate change the future too much? Then there is the sub-plot of Jeannine and her father being accused of stealilng a Botticelli painting that they helped hide during the War.. With her job and reputation in jeopardy and her love for a man that has been dead 80 years in her timeline, Jeannine has a lot on her plate.

I really enjoyed the story, there was romance, mystery, time travel and beautiful artwork. All in all this was a wonderful read. I think I will go back and read some of the other La Lune novels as I now realize this is a series

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Blue Box Press and the author for the chance to read and review this book.