The Time Collector

Do you know why I love Gwendolyn Womack books?
I love them not only because they are different, but also because they are well researched, well written, well combined and they leave you breathless after reading.

Couple years ago, by accident, I have found her "Fortune Teller" book. That book left me mesmerized for a week, and I would recommend it to all friends and family members until they read it.
Shortly after "The Memory Painter" followed.
I read it all, and I was craving for more.

Until now, her 3rd book "The Time Collector" happened. Again, I was so very happy I had a chance to read it, and I read it fast, craving every page, inhaling the story like a breath of fresh air.

This book has everything, from a great plot and writing from beginning to the end.
Book with paranormal touch. Story of a psychometrist (person can perceive the past of any object he/she touches) that leads us through centuries of different historical times, but are well connected together at the end of the book. Mrs Womack's books have this charm in them, they keep you guessing till the end, and even at the end you are getting surprised and amazed at the same time when all fits beautifully like a glove on the last page.

I guarantee one thing today. If you pick any book of this author, you would be left with a mark of experiencing an amazing journey through her books, you will also learn so much reading them and you would wonder, how come I did not find this author earlier!

If I had to give 100 stars feedback it would not be enough. I would just say this. Please pick up one of her books, and you will experience magic!

I enjoyed the novel. Roan, the main character has an interesting ability, he can touch an object and relive the lives of the people that touched the object. Along with the gift comes a peril. Well written book.

I don't even know where to begin with this review. I thought the story sounded kinda cool but once I actually downloaded it, I just couldn't find the interest in reading it for a while. I decided that, as I had agreed to review it, I should give it a go at the very least. So I started it this morning and I have not put it down since. Well, until now, to write this review. It's not just the feeling in the story, the passion in the writing or the connection between the characters that made me love this; but the obvious research and work that has gone into this being written. I must admit it's quite embarrassing how many times I had to go to Google and search certain figures or events from history to get a better understanding of what was going on in each imprint!
I've never read a book with so much heart and I have paused in reading all the way through to tell my husband how incredible it is or to tell him some fact that I learnt from this story.
If someone could just touch the book to read my feelings on this book, it would be so much easier to get my point across but the short version is that I loved this in a way that I don't think I've loved a book since I was 11 and first read Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone.
I can't wait to read this again. Would definitely recommend it to anyone, regardless of what genre you usually read. 5 stars!

New ways of seeing.

“Jocelyn wanted to expose as many historical ghosts as possible because she believed, “when someone realizes the foundation of the floor beneath their feet has cracks, they will look closer at the ground they are walking on.””

Insights into historical personae. (Might Mozart have encouraged younger musicians?)

“Do not be cautious, either in life or in music. And never stop performing.”

Secret Science.

“Psychometry technically meant measuring the soul of things. Psychometrists had the ability to connect with the memory that resided within an object when they held it in their hands, even reexperience it, and a psychometrist could, by training the mind, tap into any point in history.”

Like The Fortuneteller, The Time Collector blends interesting slices of history, occult sciences and ideas, and a touch of romance into a splendid adventure. A wonderfully fun read.

'The Time Collector' by Gwendolyn Womack is an action adventure love story with time as its backdrop. The story follows the secret world of pyschometrists- those who can touch an object and perceive its history. At the centre of this story is a mystery surrounding misplaced objects and their curious locations of discovery and the lengths someone will go to in order to retrieve the past. Gwendolyn Womack achieves the right amount of romance, intrigue, and fantasy that adds to her ability to weave a suspenseful story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. There’s sacred geometry, crop circles, crystals, time travel, mudras, and a beautiful romance.

Throughout the book I found myself pondering some important questions…is it truly worth knowing the past? Does knowing the past distort our perceptions of the present? Is love timeless or does it stand still? What sorts of emotions and experiences have been imprinted on some of my beloved objects?

I am a huge fan of Womack’s previous two novels and any pyschometrist who were to touch my e-reader would know, that I absolutely loved 'The Time Collector.'

This is the first book by this author I’ve read. I’ve already added her others to my TBR list. This book was so good!! It had some mystery, romance and history! It was fast paced, I almost read it in one day! I found the whole concept of the book interesting. I loved it! Thank you for the early copy!

The Time Collector by Gwendolyn Womack. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I truly loved this book! I had never read a book about Psychometrists before and I was so intrigued and captured by the concept.

Our main characters are Roan and Melicent. They are both Psychometrists meaning they have the ability to touch objects and see the imprints of who it belonged to and basically read the history of any given artifact.

I loved the strong character development, the chemistry between characters, the mystery and puzzle solving was on point, and I thought the pacing of the book was excellently done.

This book has it all mystery, danger, strong characters, a touch of romance. It draws you in and takes you on a delightful adventure. I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait to recommend it to people when it comes out!

*I received a free Advanced Readers copy of this book from Netgalley*

THE TIME COLLECTOR by Gwendolyn Womack crosses several sub-genres of books. It has elements of historical fiction based or inspired on actual events, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, even a murder that is revealed late in the story. All these different factors combine to make a fascinating, delightful read that defies labels or any type of formula.
From the start of the book, the reader is captivated by the central character, Roan, a gifted paranormal psychometrist, who can touch an object and “see” emotions and events that people experienced while holding or owning the object. His gift, which has elements of being a curse at times, is so pronounced he goes everywhere wearing gloves so he can avoid touching things unless he specifically decided to “read” them.
As the book opens, Roan is supposed to meet a friend, another psychometrist, to do some rock climbing which is his way of releasing tension from his psychometric work. The trouble begins when his friend doesn’t show up, something totally out of character.
As Roan decides to investigate, he begins a trip he has schedule, only to stumble on a television show while in his hotel room that features an episode of the Antiques Roadshow and a young woman, Melicent, who brings a valuable watch to be valued. When the appraiser asks her where she found it, she reveals she uncovered it at a flea market and had suspected it had value from the images she got when she touched it.
That episode puts Roan and Melicent on a collision course. He feels compelled to meet her, but at their first exchange he leaves without talking with her. Then he learns there are other psychometrist who have disappeared and he begins to fear for their safety as well as Melicent’s. That sends him back to her just as someone tries to burn down her house with Melicent and her brother Parker in it.
These events bring Melicent and Roan together with him working to try and keep her safe while he tries to learn what is happening to his psychometrist friends. The path is full of danger and intrigue, along with encounters with some significant treasures having belonged to people over the decades and centuries. When Roan holds some of these objects, the point of view switches to the historical event he is experiencing and is written as though he is in the room, experiencing the event at the same time.
This switching of time zones can be a little confusing initially, but soon the reader becomes accustomed to the writing style and it doesn’t even create a blip on the radar in terms of pacing. The book itself is so well paced you can get lost for big chunks of time because you don’t want to put it down. The pace accelerates to a exciting conclusion for the final few chapters. At that point, it would be difficult to put it down without finding out how the book ends.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a story that combines wonderful character building and a plot that follows its own path. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be looking for other books by Ms. Womack in the future. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Picador for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book. This review and these opinions are completely my own.

Note: Blog Post Scheduled for April 8th.

Full review to come on the day of the blog tour. I love Gwendolyn Womack’s The Memory Painter, and this was another winner. The characters are very complex. The plot is fast-paced and filled with mystery, thriller, romance, and adventure! I’m looking forward to more of her future works!

Roan West has an incredible gift-- he's a psychometrist, meaning he can sense the history of an item just by touching it. He uses his skill to find lost heirlooms in order to return them to their rightful families. His life is turned upside down when his close friend, who has the same power, is kidnapped due to his research into "ooparts" or out-of-place-artifacts. Roan quickly learns that someone is targeting psychometrists, and he hurries to find Melicent Tilpin, a young woman who just went viral for showcasing her powers, because he believes she's the next target. The pair are then thrust into an adventure that takes them around the world in search of answers. I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked right from the jump. The whole story was just so fascinating; I'm such a sucker when it comes to historical fiction mixed with fantasy elements. I especially loved all the glimpses into the past of objects they touched. The characters were engaging and Roan and Melicent's relationship together never felt dull or forced. There were also twists that I didn't expect which I enjoyed. Womack did such a great job with this book. This is one of those rare cases where I wish this wasn't a stand-alone because I just want more.

This is an engrossing and very original book about a group of people who call themselves psychometrists. Just by touching an object they can tell its past history and connection with all the people who have handled it. Roan West has this gift and uses it to return stolen and lost artifacts to their owners or heirs. Recently a group of psychometrists, including Roan's friend Stuart, has become interested in "out of place artifacts' (known as OOPArts), objects found in the wrong place or an impossible timeline. When Stuart disappears, Roan becomes concerned about the group as one member recently committed suicide and another member has also disappeared. He is also worried about the safety of a young woman, Melicent, who was recently discovered to have the gift of psychometry in a video that is going viral. He realises he is going to have to discover more about the OOPArts and their connections if Melicent and the other psychometrists are to be safe.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and learning about OOPArts (there is a lot of information on the net including theories and explanations). I also loved the characters of Roan and Melicent and would have liked to see more of them and their developing relationship in the novel alongside the action and intrigue. Overall, a very engaging read with great characters, plenty of action, and a touch of romance and magic!

The Time Collector is about a psychometrist who touches objects to see their history unfold in their minds. Ooparts are objects of historical value that are found in the wrong time period such a watch might be found in a prehistoric fossil. A group of psychometrists tries to solve the mystery of ooparts and possibly time itself. A fascinating read! It's full of cliffhangers, and historically correct information as part of the story. I can't wait to read the next book Gwendolyn Womack writes!

I am new to NetGalley and reviewing here, but not new to being a voracious reader. I discovered Gwendolyn Womack by chance last year when Amazon recommended The Fortune Teller. I loved it so much that I immediately purchased The Memory Painter. I was thrilled when I discovered her latest book, The Time Collector on NetGalley and was approved to read and review it. The book is very well written with an interesting premise of psychometristy, the ability to sense the history of an object when touched. The story is about Roan West and Melicent Tilpin, both psychometrists, though Melicent has only recently dicoverd her gift sine the passing of her mother. Well if being able to touch objects and see their history is not thrilling enough, it seems some shadowy people are hunting psychometrists and it does not seem that they want to have tea and chat. It appears, that several objects have been found out of their time period, they are considered OOPARTS, out of place artifacts. How are these objects ending up in the wrong time period? Who is after the psychometrists? The story was fast paced and well written. Some of the background stories were fascinating and some heartbreaking. I highly recommend this book. It is a toss up if this book or The Fortune Teller is my favorite book by this author. If Gwendolyn Womack is not on your bookshelf, I recommend giving her a try.

The Time Collector


A fascinating and unique trip across time, continents and history with just the touch of a hand

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Roan West is a highly skilled psychometrist, able to perceive the past of any object he touches. He uses his talents to find, sell and even return valuable antiques. Stuart, a fellow psychometrist and Roan’s close friend, has just unearthed several “ooparts”, out-of-place-artifacts that challenge recorded history. Soon after this remarkable discovery, Stuart disappears, making him one of several psychometrists who have died mysteriously in recent months or vanished without a trace. When Roan comes across a YouTube video of a young woman who has discovered a priceless pocket watch by “sensing” it, he knows he has to warn her about the danger—but will Melicent Tilpin listen? And can Roan find Stuart before it’s too late?

REVIEW
Once again, Gwendolyn Womack has created a fascinating and unique tale of mystery, intrigue and adventure. Her writing is engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. She allows Roan and his extraordinary gift to take us on a perilous journey across time, across continents and across history. Just imagine being able to travel through time and transcend the laws of nature with just the touch of your hand.

Roan and Melicent are both captivating characters that ground the story in reality with their quest to find Stuart. They are the compass for this otherworldly tale of suspense with just a little romance thrown in.

I had the pleasure of hearing Gwendolyn Womack talk about this book a year ago and couldn’t wait for it to come out. I have absolutely loved both of her previous books: The Memory Painter and The Fortune Teller. Womack is originally from Houston, Texas. She moved to Alaska for college to become an environmental scientist and ended up in the theater department writing plays. Later she went on to receive an MFA in Directing Theatre, Video & Cinema from California Institute of the Arts. Currently she resides in Los Angeles with her family and collects kaleidoscopes and paints as a hobby.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gwendolyn Womack and Picador Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Publisher Picador-Macmillan
Published April 16, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Full disclosure I received an ARC copy from netgalley and MacMillan/Picador in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

If I could give this novel 6 stars, I would. Womack has created a lovely story that combines both fantasy and historical fiction. The novel is based on psychometry. A metaphysical concept that suggests a person can determine facts, events, or memories of a person by touching an object associated with that person. Womack's protagonist, Roan is one of the strongest psychometrists. One who can see things from the past so clearly, it is as if he travels in time. This ability has caused him to isolate himself from most of the world. All this changes when he meets Melicent, a neophyte psychometrist.

They are pulled into a conspiracy that includes arson, kidnapping madness and death. As the story unfurls, various objects are used to provide answers for their increasingly perilous quest. The objects include items that have the characteristic of OoParts (Out of Place Artifacts). These puzzling objects are considered to be too advanced for their time, or found in geological strata before humanity existed. In the novel, when an object 'speaks' to the psychometrist, the facts given are historically accurate. The reader dips into histories varying from Mozart to the horror of the Korean war.

Womack's strong narrative embraces the idea, what if psychometry were true? Would the reader want this paranormal power. Will the characters always use the gift for healing, or will they become corrupted? In an interview, the author says she is fascinated with the concept of time.
After reading The Time Collector, so am I.

Highly recommended.

Gwendolyn Womack has created a unique, imaginative story about a man who and a woman who are psychometrists - they can see the past when they touch an object. Roan West is very experienced, and uses his abilities to help people. Melicent is just beginning to understand her abilities. The pair meet and join forces to solve the mystery when danger threatens them both. Many of the theories and information they discover were well researched, and it was a very interesting read in that regard. I did feel that the romance between the two was very rushed and very superficial. I suspect, though, that younger people may not mind that. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, just not as great as I expected from all the glowing reviews. I am adding her last novel to my TBR list, though! Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan/Picador for the e-arc. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A very enjoyable read, something completely different, not without its flaws, but intriguing all the same.

Roan West has a rare gift. He is one of the few people in the world who are called pyschometrists. He can tell the history of an object and all that have come in contact with it, just by touching it. He is among the best in the world having honed his skills over the years.

After making his fortune, he spends his time finding old antiques that are family heir looms and returns them to their rightful owners. Based in New Orleans, he travels the world with his work.
His friend from London Stuart, another pyschometrist, has been concentrating on out of place artifacts called ooparts. These are objects that have been found from history but in places that do not match their history, like a 17th century ring that was found in a prehistoric rock!

These objects are out of place in time and when Stuart goes missing along with another couple of pyschometrists, Roan decides to investigate and try to find his friend and what he may have uncovered.

When Roan sees a viral video of a woman called Melicent Tiplin on the Antiques Roadshow showing a watch that she found which is valued at over $2 million, a find which she says she sensed was valuable, he knows he has found another potential pyschometrist and has to warn her that she may be in danger because of the ooparts and the other missing pyschometrists.
They end up travelling the world trying to find Stuart and unravelling the clues that may lead them to understand the meaning of the ooparts and the value they may have.

So it alls sounds quite complicated from my above description but honestly this is quite easy to follow. Its a bit out there with some mad ideas but its very clever in doing so and it doesnt detract from the overall story.

The first half or even three quarters of this book are great. There is loads of mystery and intrigue and the blossoming romance between Roan and Mellicent.
There are also some fantastic flashback sequences to various points in history when objects are being touched. They are like little short stories within the novel and while not always directly relevant to the story they are always of interest and add an extra dimension to the book and give the whole story more meaning.

The book does trail off a little bit towards the final quarter as the story kind of simplifies itself out as we reach the finale but it doesnt take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Macillan-Picador and Gwendolyn Womack for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the eARC for my honest review. A wonderfully engaging premise. Psycometrists, people who can read the emotions and history of anything they touch, but what can this lead too? and if you also include mysterious items found outside of their proper time period? You have the wonderfully thrilling building blocks to an exciting novel. It feels like it could be the first of an ongoing serier? I loved it.

It's the first book I read by Ms Womack and I'm happy I requested it because it was a great discovery.
I loved the mix of different genres, from fantasy to romance and mystery, and how the plot was developed and the different parts kept together without creating any riff in the flow of the story.
The characters are fleshed out and well written, all of them interesting.
The plot kept me hooked since the first pages and was engaging and entertaining.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Macmillan-Picador and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.