3 Stars – Ambitious and Atmospheric, but Uneven

Crossing the Time reaches for big ideas—time travel, love across dimensions, and the consequences of fate—but doesn’t always stick the landing. The concept is intriguing and the world-building shows promise, with moments of genuine emotional pull and thought-provoking questions about destiny and choice.

However, the pacing can be uneven. Some parts feel rushed, while others linger too long without adding much depth. Characters are compelling in bursts, but occasionally feel underdeveloped or driven more by the plot than by authentic motivation.

That said, the writing has a lyrical, sometimes dreamlike quality that adds to the atmosphere, and fans of speculative fiction or sci-fi romance may still find enough here to enjoy.

Bottom line: Crossing the Time is a solid effort with flashes of brilliance—but it’s a bit rough around the edges. A worthwhile read if you’re in the mood for time travel with a poetic twist.

Based on reviews, I was so confident that I was going to love this book. It became clear very quickly that, while this is a book so many people loved enough to write glowing reviews, this is not the book for me. I found the characters generally insufferable and their relationship was unrealistic. The plot seemed to contradict itself or change directions unexpectedly. Time travel was promised in the summary of the book, but doesn't happen until over halfway through the book. The science of the time travel aspect also seemed to continually change and it was never fully clear if they were traveling in time or to alternate universes. I could go on about all the aspects that I found confusing or frustrating, but I think I'll just leave it at this: it was a book that had potential that it did not live up to.

"Crossing in Time" by D.L. Orton is Book one of her sci-fi romance series "Between Two Evils". This one was published in 2015. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard.

In an apocalyptic world, two former lovers, Isabel and Diego, reunite by chance and fall in love again. Diego is sent back in time with a time machine device that isn't clearly explained. Isabel goes after him, twenty years back into the past.

The scientists really don't know how the time travel works, but they think that if this couple can make their relationship work that it will save the world. WTF? This makes no sense! Lamest plot ever!

The romance is really well written. The characters are very well developed. The POVs shift between the two main characters and Matt, one of the scientists in the future. The chapters are mostly very short.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 1/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 4/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 29/8 = 3 5/8
Rounded up to 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Rocky Mountain Press Audio, and D.L. Orton for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The best thing about this time travel novel was the narration of the story! I thought did Levine and deWard did an extremely good job.

The story has a good premise; unfortunately, I just didn't feel fully invested. It is told from various viewpoints and times. I did like much of the dialogue; there was banter between our main characters and Diego tells some pretty good "dad" jokes and puns to add realism. I did like the overall optimism in the book, even though things got pretty bleak.

The time travel here is rather shaky, but does not distract from the tale. Originally published in 2015, it was a little creepy that the principal danger that must be overcome involves a pandemic of unknown origin.

Some reviews have compared this series to Gabaldon's Outlander series and there were some elements that might appeal to the Outlander fans, especially the bond between the main characters.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and we've got a deadline to send a couple people through time to ensure the survival of our species. Because it's imperative that certain things happen in the past to ensure future survival. This book kind of reminded me of Dark Matter in the way the time travel worked for these characters.

I was a bit disappointed that we didn't see more of the masked robbers that helped Diego save Isabel from the fire at the hotel. The dog, Tolstoy, that they also rescued makes a few appearances, and seems mildly important to the story, so I was expecting to see them too. A part of me wonders if they will show up in future books maybe.

The narration was done by two actors, one for each of the main character's POVs, which I always enjoy. It makes it easier to know whose head we are in. My complaint here is that the audio would get ridiculously quiet at times, making it really hard to hear.

Overall I give Crossing in Time 3.6834 out of 5 stars.

I received an ALC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Narrators: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story is told in three different POVs (Matt, Diego, and Isabel). The narrators did such an amazing job. This book is in duet narration and both narrators (Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard) did such a great job with the different voices and different characters. Not just their own but every character that was involved.

Crossing in Time is about Diego and Isabel at its core. They are a second chance love that meet surprisingly on the day Isabel finalizes her divorce. He takes her to dinner and the conversation doesn't go as planned. Isabel leaves and out of nowhere Denver is full of fire from a mysterious Einstein ball. Diego comes to her rescue and they start a relationship again. Matt, in the interim, is kidnapped for a secret government assignment to help with uncovering the Einstein ball. That's when things start getting interesting. Diego is warned to prepare from an unknown Diego while in the ball his name is written along with instructions on a time machine. They kidnap Diego and are working on a time machine that plants you in alternate dimensions, dual timelines. In this, it is a race to save his timeline by going back to keep Diego and Isabel together because in any alternate reality where they don't end up and stay together the world erupts in chaos.

This book started out slow but once things started moving I was hooked. Diego is dedicated to Isabel. That fact is undeniable. Same goes for Isabel. They are true star crossed lovers. Everyone in this book went through so much. Diego's determination to get back to Isabel and Isabel's loyalty to Diego is admirable. Matt was also an amazing character and so headstrong. The core people in the Magic Kingdom each had their own strengths and it was so easy to root for each of those characters.

I love dystopian books. And to see where a virus mixed with a domino effect of each decision was amazing. Even dealing with the politics of it all was entertaining to read. Things became so fast paced once the race for the time machine was involved. I could barely stop listening because I needed to know what happened.

Dave and Detective Douche were on my shit list though. Dave most of all. I couldn't understand his need to keep Diego and Isabel apart even after he successfully gained access to Isabel's research.

I am not so patiently diving in to the next story. I need to see if Diego and Isabel finally find each other because that epilogue was basically like breadcrumbs and I'm fucking starving.

I see these 3 books were made in 2017 and I am hoping and begging the final books come out soon because I don't know if I'll be able to rest until I find out how this ends with the star crossed lovers and the state of the world.

This was an amazing read for me. I enjoyed the whole thing so much. It took me a bit to get started but once I did I couldn’t stop. The writing was amazing

Truly amazing work! The narrators give true life to Isabel and Diego along with the other characters but not only that DL really did amazing with this book! I can’t wait to read what happens next! I need more and I need it now. I also feel I’d be like Isabel and save as many pets as I could. (Lucky is my favorite!)

I am so conflicted with this one. I loved the story. The romance drove the story, which I normally don't like, but it didn't take away from this one. There was almost no spice, which I loved, and the Sci-Fi subplot was interesting enough to keep me engaged, but the narration was painful enough to loose one entire star. The normal speed was insanely slow, and the breathy tone of the female at that speed was annoying. Male voice was good. Given that, the story was great.

Thank you to Rocky Mountain Press Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio. My Opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Rocky Mountain press for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I’ve found a new top book. I’m actually obsessed… 6 stars !! I want EVERYONE to read this. Such a unique plot, with some sci-fi / apocalyptic themes that usually when they talk about all the smart stuff I have no idea what they’re on about and it bores me but this did it in the most entertaining way, the characters are all so lovable (and hateable) and they’re made even better by the audio book narrators this book was narrated so well. The writing was so well done, so this author doesn’t just make up great ideas but can showcase them incredibly. I absolutely have to read the rest of these books and if anyone else reads it please talk with me about it cause it’s my new obsession. I recommend!

The narrators did a great job, I was hooked from the first second and loved that this was a duet. 5 stars
The story was not so much for me. From the blurb my assumption was this would be more of a second chance kind of thing and that that is the focus of the book. However, we dont really get to that part until about 60% in. And it is more of a third chance?
It really felt like the first 50% and the second were not written by the same person, all of a sudden things did not make sense anymore, we had some weird realtionships thrown at us (who are these people, like there were there 3 times? why should i care)
The whole science explanation and why it has to be both of them to fix it made no sense at all. Like I dont mind when things dont make all the sense but this was just odd.
Overall 3 stars because the narrators were awesome

Audiobook experience: I’m a fan of multi-cast narrators, so I enjoyed that this had dual narrators. Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard both did a great job at bringing all the characters to life. The only negative I have regarding the audio was that there were a few spots were the narration was so quiet that I struggled to hear them. The characters were meant to be speaking quietly at those times, but it was too quiet for me. I listened to this in my car and on my phone so it is possible that could the fault of my devices, but this is not something I have encountered with previous audiobooks. Or maybe I’ve just been to too many loud concerts.
Science Fiction: I enjoyed the science fiction portion of this story. There was a lot of action, that kept me wanting to continue to read. There were so many disasters/apocalyptic events going on, but I felt more time and detailed would have been nice. I would have liked more spent on those aspects and the survival aspect as those were the parts of the book I enjoyed the most.
Romance: I am not really a fan of romance. I don’t mind a small subplot of romance now and then but there was more time spent on the romance in the latter half of the book than I would have liked. There was nothing wrong with the romance it just isn’t my cup of tea.

Post-apocalyptic Multiverse? Yes please!

If you like:
Time Travel
Parallel Universes
Apocalyptic Themes
Tragic romance
then you don't want to miss this book!

What happens if future you from a parallel universe gives you one opportunity to save your world? But you are your partner are the only ones who can do it?

I wish I had noticed the content warnings about pregnancy loss/ infant death. While it was handled well, this is a huge moment in the book I would have liked to been better prepared for. Also there is a lot of Sexual content (not spicy per se, just integrated into the storyline) which I'm not a fan of but it was tasteful.

There is SO MUCH going on in this book it is hard to believe it was all packed in.

I enjoyed the narrators and found their use of accents very helpful to the story.

Loved the concept, the dual narration, but the length of the entire story just seemed too long for me.
I wish I had discovered this entire story much earlier.

I think as much as the idea of a time travel story appealed to me, this specific one wasn’t for me.

Perhaps it was the audio, perhaps it was the perpetual hard time the FMC was having, or the fact that the time travel portion of the story felt creepy and gave me the ick. I did find the notion of time travel across the multiverse interesting, however the level of altruism required by the characters seemed incredibly unbelievable especially compared to what was happening around them.

While well told, perfectly well written, I just don’t think this story was for me and out of respect for the Author I have chosen not to publish this review on a public platform.

crossing in time - DL Orton
book themes - science fiction romance ,time travel and multiple universes
the main characters in this book are perfectly set up with their own pasts and trauma. i believe this book is more of romance than fantasy to keep readers engaged with the plot.

the world get attacked by a large virus but when isabel and diego are living in the log cabin, diego doesnt return. isabel had assumed him dead by what she had been told. but when she gets taken to a military base she gets to climb naked into an untested time machine to try save the world. Wake up twenty years younger on a tropical beach back the the love of her life who just didn't know it.

loved both of the narrators for this book. they gave a lot of emotion and expression into the listening of the book.

The cover caught my eye immediately! Read the synopsis and it sounded like a book I would really enjoy.

The world has fallen to pieces and the government has determined that there is 1 moment in time that could fix everything.

Crossing in Time follows Isabel and Diego as they try to change their past and save mankind.

This story grabbed my attention from the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. Needless to say, I will be picking up the next book of the series to continue the story.

The Sci-Fi and Romance of this story really complimented each other. I listened to this on audio and felt the narrators did a fantastic job!

If you are a fan of time travel, give this a read!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Crossing in Time is a captivating novel that intertwines elements of science fiction, romance, and suspense and is the first book in the “Between Two Evils” trilogy. The story follows main characters Isabel and Diego, ex-lovers who are unexpectedly reunited after years apart. Their reunion is interrupted when a catastrophic event shakes the world, and Diego saves Isabel's life, making their lives irrevocably entwined. Isabel is then offered a one-way trip into the past to help save the world, and forces soon threaten to tear the duo apart. The book is fast-paced, propulsive, and heavy on the romance with some well-crafted spicy scenes that don’t overwhelm the plot. The complex, shifting timelines interwoven into a second-chance romance narrative make for a highly entertaining and original read.

There is good character development in this book. Isabel and Diego have palpable chemistry, and their relationship dynamics are engrossing and complex. Diego is very admirable in his constant efforts to stand by and protect Isabel, despite her being difficult on several occasions—their relationship will take readers on an emotional roller coaster, and their engrossing dialogue may elicit emotional reactions!

Overall, Crossing in Time is a unique time travel romance with a compelling narrative. The book’s strengths are the character development, steamy romance, and the intricate world-building. Narrators Noah Michael Levine and Erin deWard deliver sensational performances of the characters with distinct character voices, using a wide range of emotions and pacing to create a fully immersive and entertaining listen. If you enjoy thought-provoking, genre-bending stories with steamy romances, then add this to your reading list! The twists and exciting conclusion will leave you eager for the next book in the series!

Crossing Time has a unique plot. Humanity is in trouble. It is on the verge of extinction. Planet Earth is facing a multitude of problems, one problem leads to another. Volcanoes are spewing ash in the air. Eruptions cause a rise in temperature which cause the polar caps and icebergs to melt causing tsunamis as well as drought. Fires break out in Denver. Could things get worse? Of course they can. People are anxious, living on edge and that causes rage. The US and Russia exchange a nuclear weapon (accidentally of course.) There is an outbreak of a virus similar to Ebola. The vaccine for the virus mutates into something worse than the disease. If someone doesn’t do something, mammals will become extinct within a few months. A round sphere with Einstein’s equation engraved on it appears with a sock in it. The fate of humanity rests in the hands of our main characters. It is their love for each other that could save the world.
Time travel, romance, multi-universes, spheres, sea shells, socks, and a towel play a part in this tale.
The main characters are Isabel a strong female character. She is a geneticist, a risk taker, and very determined and Diego a software engineer, laid back, easy going. He is not your typical main character or hero.
Our main characters are desperately in love. So, you ask what is unique about this plot. I’m glad you ask! This tale is a combination of sci fi and romance. Heavy on the romance and heavy on the hot and heavy details. While the romance and physical aspects are well done it might make some readers uncomfortable. If you embarrass easily you might want to skip this book. The love between Isabel and Diego is a love that will last for ages and time travel.
It took me a bit to get really involved in this tale. The first part of the book is slow. However, the last half of this book made it all worthwhile. The characters are well defined and multilayered. This book has 3 elements that I especially like: (1) Time Travel, (2) Romance, (3) a Dystopic society, making this book a win-win for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The voices are amazing and reas the story well
But the story itself for me isn't it
It's slow
Some parts don't really seam to make sense i dont know it's not a favourite of mine