I’m honestly torn about how to review this book. While I enjoyed certain aspects of it, in the end, it left me wanting more.
Historical fiction, time travel, and romance are some of my favorite genres, so I was excited to dive into this story. However, I felt that it didn’t fully deliver on any of those fronts.

We follow Isla, political assistant in the 2025 London who finds herself unexpectedly transported to 1605, right before Guy Fawkes’s infamous Gunpowder Plot. As someone unfamiliar with this time period, I appreciated learning about the historical events through the story, especially since, according to the author's note, it is really close to the actual events.. That said, I didn’t connect with Guy Fawkes’s POV and felt the story could have done without those chapters.

The romance between Isla and Simon was sweet and had a slow-burn charm. Their conversations were lovely, but I found myself wanting more—more interactions, more discussion about the future, and more of Isla using her modern knowledge in the past. The twins, however, were delightful!

One of the biggest things missing for me was the usual insight I expect from time travel stories. Elements like hygiene, food, and clothing struggles—things that would naturally be jarring for a modern person in the 17th century—were barely touched on. The two times clothing was mentioned, was mostly about how difficult it was to wear or ride a horse in, but I kept wondering: Does Isla miss modern comforts? How does she adapt to daily life? These details would have helped immerse me in the world more fully.

Additionally, certain plot points—such as the plague, the dramatic ex, and even Isla’s mission—felt somewhat disconnected, like a series of events that didn’t quite flow together. And one of my biggest disappointments was that after everything, we don’t get to see Simon’s experience once he’s saved—the book jumps three years into the future for the epilogue, skipping over what could have been an emotional part of his journey.

Overall, while this book had interesting moments, it didn’t fully capture what I love about time travel, historical fiction, or romance. However, I do appreciate the historical research and the quieter moments between Isla and Simon, which brought warmth to the story.


*Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

"A Time Traveler's Masquerade" offers a compelling exploration of temporal displacement through the lens of a female character who unexpectedly finds herself in a historical context. The narrative intricately weaves themes of societal integration, identity concealment, and the intricacies of past romantic entanglements. As she endeavors to assimilate into an 18th-century high society rife with intrigue, the protagonist unravels complex secrets that define the era.

The text meticulously examines the dynamics of time travel's impact on personal relationships, challenging the notion of love as a constant across temporal boundaries. It raises profound questions about the nature of passion and commitment when juxtaposed against the ephemeral nature of time.

The pacing of the narrative is commendable, maintaining reader engagement through its well-structured plot development and character arcs. The characterization is particularly notable; both primary and secondary characters are crafted with depth, contributing significantly to the thematic resonance and overall impact of the story. This book is a noteworthy addition to the time travel genre, blending adventure, emotion, and the philosophical complexities that accompany the quest for love through the ages.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Shadow Mountain, Proper Romance, and NetGalley.

Fascinating bit of history written into a delightful story of true love. I appreciate all the research the author put into this to make it historically accurate so I could learn more about the event while enjoying the romance on the side. I knew what Guy Fawkes day was, but didn’t know a lot of the details. The little girl with the Black Plague broke my heart; it makes you grateful to be alive with all our knowledge of modern medicine. I also enjoyed the author’s notes and learning a bit more. Time Travel hasn’t really been my forte, but the author may convert me. The ending was perfect, and I look forward to what McQuivey’s Costume Shop will come up with in the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, I received a complimentary ARC copy with no obligation to post a positive review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley & Shadow Mountain Publishing for the arc!

**2.5 stars** I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover but alas, this was a pretty mid book.

Set in present day London, Isla Crawford is at her workplace discussing her costume for an upcoming office party with her coworker and is given an address to a costume shop. Upon visiting, Isla notices the peculiar shop owner and is given a set of Jacobean-style clothing to try on in the shop’s dressing room. When she tries on the dress to show the shop owner, the minute she steps out of the dressing room, she is thrust into the past, specifically 1605, Surrey, England. Which happens to be when the event of the Gunpowder plot took place. Enter our mmc, Simon Hartworth runs into our damsel in distress and together, finds a way to stop this historical event, all while Isla learns to adapt to her new reality.

At first, I LOVED the writing. It was so whimsical and elegant, but the story wasn’t executed well. The book is split into a few povs, one being Guy Fawkes. Reading his perspective was quite dull even though the story is central to this historical event.

It was also very jarring to read about COVID and Isla explaining the pandemic to her caretakers. It just was not done well. What does the telling of the future do? Will it affect the future in any way? Will it stop something from happening or? What was the point?

Though I mentioned, I was drawn from the cover, it is very misleading. There was no masquerade taking place in any capacity–it was merely mentioned. I was looking forward to reading a magical masquerade ball only for it not to be a part of the story.

The ending was very abrupt. It just so happens to conveniently wrap up after a huge event and then the end. This was way too short! Why couldn’t we read more about the connection between Isla and Simon? Their romance felt so unnecessary at this point! Such a shame.

Readers who loved Outlander (the show AND the books) might like this. Albeit, this is a very YA take on a time travel romance set in a historical event, reading the romance was still somewhat sweet. I wished this was longer so we could have read more about them.

It has been a long time since I couldn't put down a book. The Time Traveler's Masquerade definitely delivers!! I was captivated to the very end, only pausing to consult Wikipedia to compare to the real events involving Guy Fawkes.

I can't imagine being set back in the 1600s, but Sian Besseey navigates this story flawlessly. Isla and Simon's story is compelling and kept me up far into the night to finish. I have the ebook, but this is a book I want to add a physical copy when it is released!!

You will not regret this read!

A Time Traveler’s Masquerade was a cute historical fantasy romance. I loved the attention to detail this story brought to real life English events. The character development was great and the story progression was very natural. This was a nice cute cozy read.

I throughly enjoyed this story! The concept of time travel is alwayss fun and with plenty of twist and turns and this story is no exception. I loved the fast pace of the reading, the relatable characters, and of course the “swoon” romance.

Isla enters a quiet costume shop in London to get a Wendy costume, but after being tricked by the shop owner to try on a period dress, she steps out of the dressing room and right into 1605. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, she remembers from her history classes what happens during that year. Working together with the family who’s “doorstep” she lands on, maybe she can change the course of history and find love on the way.

Goodness, how do I even begin to put into words just how much I loved A Time Traveler’s Masquerade? This book completely swept me off my feet in the most delightful way! The concept alone was enough to pull me in, and it did not disappoint.

Being familiar with Guy Fawkes Day thanks to my husband (who’s from the UK), I thought I knew a little bit about the historical significance of November 5th. But getting a closer look at the days leading up to the event was an absolute treat! Sian Ann Bessey brings the era to life with such fun and fascinating detail.

Isla and Simon... sigh. These two were absolutely amazing together. Truly. Reading their dialogue and how they interacted with Simon’s nephews was delightful. Watching their relationship unfold was such a joy, and it added so much depth to the already great story.

I also have to point out the dedication to Marilee—it’s well deserved. She truly is a wonderful person! Marilee has the skill to make everyone feel seen and appreciate which is a rare and beautiful gift.

Sian Ann Bessey has truly created something special here. I couldn’t get enough of this time-traveling adventure, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical twist with plenty of romance. (Only kisses) ;) A Time Traveler’s Masquerade is an absolute gem!

A Time Traveler's Masquerade: A McQuivey's Costume Shop Romance by Sian Ann Bessey is an excellent historical fiction and romance that is the first in a time travel series. This book is amazing!

I am going to be honest, I had given up on time travel, multiple time frames, and anything of that sort for quite a while…but something about the cover or the summary just intrigued me. I am so glad I took a chance. This will undoubtedly be one of my favorite books this year. I am not sure how anything can measure up to this!

This novel is based on the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and the author has taken immense time, effort, and dedication to create a story that is real, emotional, legitimate, romantic, gripping, and just awesome. I went through all the emotions…I even found myself gripping my sweater and my heart racing at several points. The pacing, content, and outcome were spot on. Isla and Simon are wonderful MCs and their chemistry was perfect. There was romance without the ick, history to boot, and small messages of hope, faith, and the promise that we are more to Someone than we ever thought possible.

I am so thrilled that this is the first in a new series, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Bessey cooks up next.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful physical arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/1/25.

This book lived up to the hype! I loved learning more about Guy Fawkes' plot and the culture in England at the time of the Black Death. The comparisons to 1605 England with modern day highlighted contrasts - I felt that the time slip element was handled well. I enjoy Bessey's writing style and this fun story did not disappoint!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

I love a good time travel and this one did not disappoint. It is s set in a century and during a time that is so rich with history. Well written, with interesting and clever characters. Highly recommend and interested to see where and when the costume shop will send the next traveler!

A Time Traveler's Masquerade follows a woman who finds herself unexpectedly thrown back in time, caught in a world of intrigue, hidden identities, and, of course, romance. As she navigates this unfamiliar era, she must unravel secrets, blend into high society, and figure out if the love she's found across time is worth the risk of never returning home. I loved, loved, loved this book! I've always adored time-travel romances, but lately, I haven't picked up many because they tend to be so long. This one? The perfect length! The pacing was spot on—no slumps, no moments where I wanted to put it down. It completely captured my attention from start to finish. I also loved the characters, both the main and the secondary ones. They were so well-written and added so much to the story! If you love time-traveling historical romance with the perfect balance of adventure and romance, this one is a must-read!

In A TIME TRAVELLER’S MASQUERADE, SIAN ANN BESSEY has given us an interesting timeslip novel, that takes place in London, with characters moving between 1605, the time of Guy Fawkes and the gun powder plot, and the present day.
It is an enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A great story you won’t want to miss
This is a wonderful book to introduce you to time-slip novels. It is a fantastic book by a very talented author. Isla is an assistant to a politician in present day England who had been talked into going to a masquerade ball with her fellow employees. After deciding that the group would go as Peter Pan characters, Isla needed a Wendy costume. Luckily her co-worker Chloe knew of a costume shop. Arriving at the shop the owner encourages her to try on a Jacobean costume while waiting for the Wendy costume to be located. After dressing, Isla opens the dressing room door to find herself outside a manor in Surrey in 1605. As she navigates the intricacies of Jacobean England with the help of Simon, they find themselves falling in love. But will she vanish when her time there is done? Will she have the opportunity to stay? And how long until they could be torn apart? A truly excellent book you will not want to miss.

After going to find a costume for her company's theme at a party, Isla finds herself in a storm with no shoes. She makes her way to a nearby manor and runs into Lord Bancroft who is leaving London to avoid the bubonic plague. In a turn of events, Isla NEEDS to be in 1605 to stop a disaster from unfolding. In this time traveling historical fiction romance, Isla tells the family that she is from the future and they work together to make the events that Isla read about in her history classes happen to avoid a plot to overthrow the government.

This book was outside the normal books I pick up but it was one I didn't want to put down. It truly brought so many genres together and was an enjoyable story.

I loved this romantic time slip story. The history kept it interesting and the wonderful details and descriptions made it almost tangible. You may find yourself wondering about how you might react if put in a similar situation.
I love series that exist in the same world but can be read as stand alone books. This book promises just that.
It makes you wonder if Mrs McQuivey would have a special costume for you as well.

This was an interesting time travel/slip novel. How does someone from 2025 move back in time to 1605 and make it work? I guess if you had a good history background, that would help.

Isla has walked into a costume shop in London, and after appeasing the owner, finds herself in 1605 England. She realizes after a while that she must have a purpose for this travel, and comes to understand that she is close in time to an event that could have changed England forever.

As she works with others to stop the terrorism, she finds romance also. Can she stop the plot and still have love too?

This was fun. The characters were enjoyable, the history good, and the story is worth the time to read. All plusses!

#ATimeTravelersMasquerade #NetGalley
A different genre for Sian Bessey.
Isla steps into a costume shop to purchase an outfit for a company Christmas party and finds herself transported in time to 1605. A time when Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot are taking place. Sian Bessey did a lot of research on the subject. It was an interesting read.

The time travel element of this story is interesting and the characters are engaging. The author goes into great historical detail about Fawkes, which is interesting, but overdone.